Alex Scott gets dressing down from BBC bosses after promoting Reiss outfit

BBC World Cup pundit Alex Scott has been given a telling off after she promoted a clothes brand while on duty for the broadcaster.

The former England footballer, 38, is a brand ambassador for Reiss and last week posted an image of herself working in a studio in Qatar, whilst tagging the firm in the shot. 

However, promoting commercial deals is frowned upon by the BBC and some staff on news and current affairs are banned from doing so. 

Two days ago, Scott edited the post to remove the Reiss reference. A BBC spokesman said: ‘We have spoken with Alex, who has removed the tag and will not be repeating this.’

BBC World Cup pundit Alex Scott has been given a telling off after she promoted a clothes brand while on duty of the broadcaster. The former England footballer, 38, is a brand ambassador for Reiss and last week posted an image of herself working in a studio in Qatar, whilst tagging the firm in the shot 

Scott, who earns between £195,000 and £199,999 for her work for the BBC, was wearing a £278 orange blazer and matching £168 trousers in the image, along with a £228 silk shirt and a pair of sequin heels. 

Tagging her employers in the edited post, she wrote: ‘Work Vibing World Cup stuff with @bbcfootball @bbcsport’. 

The sportswoman’s dressing down comes after former BBC Breakfast star Dan Walker stopped posting images some believed were promoting brands after he accepted free or discounted goods and shared them on social media.

He was not believed to have had commercial deals with the brands, but a source told The Times that he would no longer be accepting gifts from third parties. 

It comes after Scott wore a ‘OneLove’ rainbow armband during the broadcaster’s pre-match coverage of England’s game against Iran last month, hours after England captain Harry Kane and other players were forced to back down from displaying the gesture.

It was intended as a protest against all forms of discrimination at the tournament in Qatar

Fifa told players they would face sporting sanctions and team captains could even be booked or forced to leave the pitch if they wore the band. 

Top BBC stars regularly carry out work for other firms and, since 2020, have had to declare when they do so if they are direct employees of the corporation.

Two days ago, Scott edited the post to remove the Reiss reference. A BBC spokesman said: ‘We have spoken with Alex, who has removed the tag and will not be repeating this’

Between April and June this year, Clive Myrie, Nick Robinson, Huw Edwards and Katya Adler were paid undisclosed sums of more than £10,000, according to the recent figures in the BBC’s external events register. 

Mastermind host Myrie was paid to be a moderator at an event by SCC on May 19, while Robinson, a presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme, received his payment for speaking at an event organised by law firm Mishcon de Reya on May 5. 

In the BBC’s 2021/2022 annual report, Myrie was listed as having a salary of between £255,000-259,999, while Robinson was paid between £270,000-274,999.

Europe editor Adler, meanwhile, was paid for a speech for the Futures Industry Association on June 7.

And News at Ten presenter Edwards was paid for hosting an event for The British Insurance Brokers’ Association on May 11.

According to the BBC annual report, Adler earned between £215,000-219,999 in 2021/2022, while Edwards earned between £410,000-414,999