defamatory

He wants a full retraction of the Panorama documentary, an apology for the "false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading and inflammatory statements" made about him in it, and appropriate compensation "for the harm caused".

It accuses the BBC of making "false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements" about him.

"I was genuinely shocked to be described in such an appalling and defamatory way," Mr Wishart said in a statement.

While the banner was not specified as the reason for the charge, there are strict rules regarding messaging containing defamatory, political and offensive slogans.

"We say this defamatory, frankly puerile and infantile behaviour by a grown man in respect of these people was, and is, beyond the pale of what is tolerable in society and therefore characterised as criminal."