BBC insists it is not Begum's 'useful idiot'

It comes after a leading strategist branded broadcasters “useful idiots” for giving her airtime.

- David Stephenson and David Williamson

THE BBC denies handing Islamic State bride Shamima Begum an “unchallenged platform”.

A court judgment last week saw Begum’s bid to restore her British citizenship fail.

During the case MI5 said many of Begum’s “later interviews were self-serving and an attempt to obtain favourable media coverage in the run-up to this appeal”.

The BBC broadcast a lengthy podcast, I’m Not A Monster, over recent weeks, as well as a feature-length BBC Two documentary on her fight to return to the UK.

Together, the programmes drew 387 complaints.

Following MI5’s comments, the BBC podcast team was asked if it was being exploited.