The BBC is under fire from Jewish organisations after it emerged that a contestant on its hit show The Traitors had previously posted comments on social media comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
Controversial Social Media Posts Uncovered
The controversy centres on Marzook Bana, a 59-year-old retired police officer and father-of-five from Preston, who appeared on the BBC series under the name 'Maz'. He was the third contestant to be 'killed' in the murder mystery game.
According to a report by Jewish News, Bana made a series of posts on Facebook in 2021. Under an image appearing to show an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank, he allegedly wrote: 'Nazis all over again, the oppressed have become the oppressors!! The Zionists have short memories of what Hitler did.'
He reportedly added: 'Never again, they said!! The world’s political leaders should be ashamed of themselves of being subservient to ISRAEL!' The posts also allegedly included an accusation that Zionists were 'forgetting the Holocaust'.
Production Company and BBC Response
Studio Lambert, the production company behind The Traitors, stated that the comments were not uncovered during their background checks. They explained that the remarks were made on third-party accounts rather than Bana's own profile, making them impossible to identify through their standard vetting process.
The company emphasised that political views play no part in the selection or content of the game show. The BBC echoed this, stating: 'We were completely unaware that these comments had been posted on social media, due to the fact they were made on third-party accounts. We do not agree with the views presented.'
In a statement, Marzook Bana apologised for any offence caused. 'I refute any allegations that I am antisemitic,' he said. 'My viewpoint has always been from a humanitarian perspective rather than a political one.'
Calls for Accountability and Investigation
The emergence of the posts has led to significant criticism from groups including the Campaign Against Antisemitism. The organisation accused the BBC of either failing in its due diligence or ignoring the inflammatory content.
In a strongly-worded statement, the group said: 'The contestant presented to us by the BBC appears to believe in deranged conspiracy theories, claiming that world leaders are in hock to shadowy ‘paymasters’ and Israel, and that ‘Zionists’ are the new Nazis.'
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for an apology to be broadcast during the next episode of The Traitors. It has also demanded that senior BBC staff responsible for the programme be questioned by the House of Commons culture select committee.
The incident, dated January 13, 2026, has placed the BBC's vetting standards for high-profile entertainment shows under intense scrutiny, raising questions about the depth of background checks for participants in prime-time television.
