Tag: BBC

BBC director general Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness resign

PANORAMA’s TRUMP VIDEO EDIT IS FINAL STRAW

The beleaguered BBC faces a growing crisis this morning following the resignation of two senior figures. BBC Director-General Tim Davie announced his intention to leave the BBC last night and he was followed by CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness, who has also resigned.

The resignations following the revelation of another ‘mistake’ at the BBC.

This time, the Telegraph newspaper exposed editing of a Donald Trump speech for a Panorama programme had spliced two parts of a speech together, making it appear that Trump was explicitly encouraging the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021.

The edit is clearly misleading but the BBC’s failure to act on the revelation quickly enough calls into question the broadcaster’s already damaged reputation for honesty, impartiality and integrity. Without trust, a Public Service Broadcaster has nothing.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah said: “This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an outstanding Director-General for the last five years. He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.

“He has had the full support of me and the Board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision today. The whole Board respects the decision and the reasons for it.

“Tim has given 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a devoted and inspirational leader and an absolute believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. He has achieved a great deal. Foremost, under his tenure, the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges in a world of unprecedented change and competition is well underway.

“Personally, I will miss his stamina, good humour and resilience and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the very best for the future.

“This is an important time for the Corporation and the Board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.”

Tim Davie sent the following note to staff yesterday:

‘I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years. This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the Chair and Board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.

‘I am working through exact timings with the Board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.

‘I have been reflecting on the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times, combined with the fact that I want to give a successor time to help shape the Charter plans they will be delivering.

‘In these increasingly polarised times, the BBC is of unique value and speaks to the very best of us. It helps make the UK a special place; overwhelmingly kind, tolerant and curious.

‘Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.

‘Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility.

‘Our organisation is a critical ingredient of a healthy society, as well as a thriving creative sector. We should champion it, not weaponise it.

‘Despite a hugely competitive market, I am proud that the BBC remains the most trusted news brand globally. We have continued to ensure that it is used by almost everyone in the UK as well as hundreds of millions of people globally.

‘Despite the inevitable issues and challenges, our journalism and quality content continues to be admired as a gold standard. Our transition to a digital organisation has been deeply impressive, and our thriving commercial businesses are admired globally. Also, our work together on ensuring that we have the right culture has been important and motivating. I could not be more impressed by what you are achieving.

You will ask why now, why this moment?

‘I am BBC through and through, having spent the last 20 years of my life working for this organisation as Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences, Director of Audio and Music, acting Director-General and Chief Executive of BBC Studios.

‘I care deeply about it and want it to succeed. That is why I want to create the best conditions and space for a new DG to come in and positively shape the next Royal Charter. I hope that as we move forward, a sensible, calm and rational public conversation can take place about the next chapter of the BBC.

‘This timing allows a new DG to help shape the next Charter. I believe we are in a strong position to deliver growth.

‘Thank you again, it has been a wonderful ride, which I have loved. I count myself very lucky to have served as DG no.17. I will have a proper chance to see many of you before I go but I have been incredibly proud to lead the BBC as DG for over five years. It is a precious UK institution and you are a world-class team. Thank you all for the tireless support and friendship.

‘I will always be a passionate cheerleader for civilised society, a strong BBC and a thriving UK.’

Best wishes,

Tim

In a message to BBC colleagues last night, CEO of News Deborah Turness said:

Dear all,

I have never been more proud of the work that you do every day. You really are the best of the best.

I have taken the difficult decision that it will no longer be my role to lead you in the collective vision that we all have: to pursue the truth with no agenda.

The ongoing controversy around the Panorama on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC – an institution that I love.

As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me – and I took the decision to offer my resignation to the Director-General last night.

In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.

In a polarised world, BBC News journalism is more vital than ever, and I could not be prouder of the work that you do. Together we have bucked the global trend, to grow trust in BBC News, and I want to thank you, wherever you are in the world, for your courageous work to deliver that.

My plea to you: please keep the courage to continue our mission. I’m only sorry that I won’t be there to lead and champion your brilliant journalism.

It has been a great privilege to work with you all.

I will now work with Tim to plan an orderly handover to ensure that my decision to step away causes the least disruption possible to the important work that you do.

With very best wishes,

Deborah

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years. He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years.

“The BBC is one of our most important national institutions. Every day, it tells the story of who we are – the people, places and communities that make up life across the UK.

“Now more than ever, the need for trusted news and high quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and our place in the world.

“As a government, we will support the Board as it manages this transition and ensure that the Charter Review is the catalyst that helps the BBC to adapt to this new era and secures its role at the heart of national life for decades to come.”

Commenting on the resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said: “The decision by Tim Davie to step down is regrettable given the huge commitment to the BBC and public service broadcasting he has demonstrated during his time at the helm, but restoring trust in the corporation must come first.  

“The BBC Board must now begin the long process of rebuilding the corporation’s reputation both at home and abroad, after the damage caused by what has become a seemingly constant stream of crises and missteps.

“The Committee will be meeting on Tuesday to consider the BBC Chair’s response to our letter and next steps.

“At the same time the Government should bring forward the Charter Review process so the public and Parliament can help shape the future direction of the BBC.”

The Committee wrote to BBC Chair Samir Shah on Tuesday asking what action is being taken over concerns raised by a former adviser to the corporation’s editorial standards body, Michael Prescott.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: “It’s right that Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have finally taken responsibility and resigned from the BBC. But let’s be honest, this has been a catalogue of serious failures that runs far deeper.

“The Prescott report exposed institutional bias that cannot be swept away with two resignations – strong action must be taken on all the issues it raised.

“The culture at the BBC has not yet changed. BBC Arabic must be brought under urgent control. The BBC’s US and Middle East coverage needs a full overhaul. And on basic matters of biology, the corporation can no longer allow its output to be shaped by a cabal of ideological activists.

“The new leadership must now deliver genuine reform of the culture of the BBC, top to bottom – because it should not expect the public to keep funding it through a compulsory licence fee unless it can finally demonstrate true impartiality.”

The Liberal Democrats tweeted: ‘A free, independent BBC is vital to a free, informed democracy. Don’t let Trump’s America become Farage’s Britain’.

Josh Wheeler, Founder of Be Broadcast, commented: “From a communications perspective, this is one of the most significant media moments in years.

“It is uncomfortable to see one political figure trigger such disruption across major media institutions. That should not happen, but it shows how fragile trust in journalism has become and how quickly perception can define reality.

“Perception is now reality – so even a question mark is enough to close people’s minds.

“What stands out is the speed of the BBC’s response. This is not a corporation hiding behind bureaucracy; it is one taking decisive action to protect its reputation before the damage hardens. It is strategic crisis management.

“Do I believe Tim Davie and Deborah Turness needed to go? Probably not. But by acting early, the BBC is showing it understands how modern reputations work. The court of public opinion moves faster than any internal inquiry, and being the antidote before the venom sets in is sometimes the only way to preserve credibility.

“If the leaked memo encouraged the merging of the Trump clips, that strikes at the core of editorial integrity. Accuracy, intent, and transparency are the foundations of trust. Once those are blurred, the entire communications framework begins to crack.

“All of this is happening during a Charter Review, when every BBC decision is under a microscope. In that context, this level of accountability sends a powerful signal. It shows that the BBC still understands leadership is as much about perception as process.

“There is also a wider lesson here for those in public life. Politicians, in particular, would do well to mirror the same “buck stops with me” principle shown by Davie and Turness. Accountability is not just good ethics; it is good communication.

“What happens next will decide whether this becomes a reputational reset or a reputational scar. The BBC must now focus on transparency and openness. It needs to show how it will strengthen editorial safeguards, rebuild confidence, and reaffirm its role as a trusted, independent broadcaster.

“The BBC’s strength has always been its willingness to face uncomfortable truths. This may be one of those moments where doing so, however painful, proves exactly why it still matters.”

BBC’s Dr Punam Krishan announced as Patron of Scottish breast cancer charity The House of Hope

Resident doctor on BBC’s Morning Live, Dr Punam Krishan, has been announced as the first official patron of the Scottish breast cancer charity, The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for those impacted by breast cancer.

Dr Punam, who dazzled on Strictly Come Dancing last year, made a special visit to Edinburgh on Thursday 2 October to help officially open The House of Hope during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Glasgow-based GP made a name for herself presenting Laid Bare for BBC Scotland, as well as making regular appearances on BBC’s Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland. 

The charity was founded by Lisa Fleming – who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017 and given just six months to live at that time – along with husband Euan. The House of Hope will provide a supportive space for people impacted by breast cancer, as well as access to holistic therapies and wellbeing services away from the sterile hospital or clinical setting to compliment medical treatments.


Founder of The House of Hope, Lisa Fleming, said: “It is incredible to have Dr Punam on board – her advocacy for women’s health and patient-first approach to healthcare is exactly what The House of Hope is all about and we can’t wait to officially launch in October with Dr Punam as our patron.

“The NHS does not have the operational resources or funding to provide additional holistic care and support for breast cancer patients in and around Edinburgh. The House of Hope will help to fill this void, providing the much-needed community space and compassionate support we know is so vital for patients and their families.” 

In her role as patron for The House of Hope, Dr Punam will support the charity through the provision of online advice and attending nominated fundraising events aligning with her own dedication to raising awareness of women’s health concerns through her work with the BBC and her own social channels. 

Dr Punam, Patron of The House of Hope, said: “Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is a difficult experience, so having a dedicated place like The House of Hope to come to is such a great resource and an important step in the healing process. I’m proud to be appointed a Patron of such a life-changing charity.”

Dr Punam is also a published author, with her third children’s book released earlier this year (August 2025). The Superhero’s First Aid Manual is a fun and colourful book packed with life-saving knowledge for children, who are often the first people at an emergency. 

The House of Hope charity was inspired by London’s first-ever specialised breast cancer centre, Future Dreams House, which offers support through a range of services for women affected by breast cancer, including counselling, yoga, massage, nutrition advice, and peer support groups.

https://houseofhope.org.uk

Balamory’s coming back!

Filming begins on new series to premiere on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer next year

  • Blending familiar faces with a host of new characters, the new series will offer preschoolers a joyful mix of stories, comedy, songs and adventures

CBeebies and Lion Television Scotland have released a first-look picture showing Miss Hoolie (Julie Wilson Nimmo) as filming gets underway on location in Tobermory, the real-life Isle of Mull town that inspired the show’s iconic setting.

The new series will blend familiar faces with a host of new characters, offering preschoolers a joyful mix of stories, comedy, songs and adventures.

At its heart remains the charming fictional town of Balamory and its lively inhabitants, where brightly-coloured houses cluster around a scenic harbour and life revolves around the nursery school and its caring teacher.

Original stars of Balamory, Julie Wilson Nimmo (Miss Hoolie), Andrew Agnew (PC Plum), Kim Tserkezie (Penny Pocket) and Juliet Cadzow (Edie McCredie) are set to reprise their roles when the revamped series airs next year on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.

The new series will blend familiar faces with a host of new characters, offering preschoolers a joyful mix of stories, comedy, songs and adventures. At its heart remains the charming fictional town of Balamory and its lively inhabitants, where brightly-coloured houses cluster around a scenic harbour and life revolves around the nursery school and its caring teacher.

Brand new characters include scientist and inventor Ava Potts (played by Danielle Jam), the Harbour Master (William Andrews) and local vet Dr Ollie (Carl Spencer) who lives with his two children.

Originally produced from 2002 to 2005, Balamory became a staple of early childhood entertainment. Now, more than two decades later, it’s being lovingly reimagined for today’s families, retaining its original spirit while introducing fresh elements to captivate young viewers.

Filming will take place both in studio in Glasgow and on location in Tobermory, the real-life Isle of Mull town that inspired the show’s iconic setting.

Kate Morton, Senior Head of Children’s Commissioning 0-6 BBC Children’s and Education says: “It’s wonderful to see some of the original cast returning alongside new faces, creating a perfect mix of nostalgia and discovery for families to enjoy together.

“This vibrant new series will delight both children and the grown-ups who remember it fondly.”

Commissioned for two new series (10 x 14-minute episodes each), the show will continue its tradition of home-grown storytelling about the much-loved nursery school and the small island community that surrounds it. Families can look forward to exploring the world of Balamory once again from 2026.

Produced by Lion Television Scotland, an All3Media company, the return of Balamory promises to be a joyful celebration of community, curiosity and colourful characters.

Lisa Hazlehurst, Head of Lion Television Scotland, is the Executive Producer, Adrian Mead is Director and Jacqueline Sinclair is the Series Producer. The series was commissioned by Kate Morton for BBC Children’s and Education. Mark Barton is the BBC Commissioning Executive.

Tuning into YouTube: UK’s media habits revealed

  • Gen Alpha turn to YouTube first on their TV set at home, while over 55s double their time on the service
  • Fewer than half of 16-24-year-olds watch broadcast TV weekly
  • Despite declines, traditional broadcasters’ content still makes up majority of in-home viewing

YouTube is leading the charge in the streaming takeover of TV sets, with the service now the first place younger viewers go as soon as they switch on, according to Ofcom’s annual report on the nation’s media habits.

Overall people spent an average of 4 hours 30 minutes per day watching TV and video content at home in 2024. And while broadcast TV still accounts for the majority of in-home viewing (56%), audiences are increasingly turning to YouTube. The platform is now the second most-watched service in the UK, behind the BBC and ahead of ITV.

At home, people spent 39 minutes on YouTube per day in 2024, with 16 minutes of this via the household’s TV set. Younger adults aged 16-34 are driving this trend, watching 18 minutes of YouTube a day on TV, while one in five (20%) children aged 4-15 head straight to the app as soon as they turn the set on.

But it’s not just Gen Z and Alpha driving this trend. Over 55s are now watching nearly double the amount of YouTube content on their TVs compared to the previous year (11 minutes per day in December 2024, up from just 6 minutes in January 2023).  Last year, 42% of all YouTube viewing by this age group was on a TV set (up from 33% in 2023).

YouTube content evolving

The content audiences are watching on YouTube has evolved too. Half of the platform’s top-trending videos now more closely resemble traditional TV, including long-form interviews and game shows. This shift positions YouTube as a direct competitor to ad-supported TV services, while offering broadcasters a way to reach wider and younger audiences.  

Some broadcasters are increasingly offering  their own programmes on YouTube, for example ITV and Channel 4 make full length programming available on their channels, retaining control over adverts. Ofcom has identified these sorts of partnerships, making public service content available and prominent on online platforms, as critical to sustain the future of public service media in its recent report, Transmission Critical.

Public service broadcasters (PSBs) are seeing success with their online services, especially the BBC. For the first time, people are watching more online programmes from broadcasters than they are recorded programmes.

Ed Leighton, Ofcom’s Interim Group Director for Strategy and Research, said: “Scheduled TV is increasingly alien to younger viewers, with YouTube the first port of call for many when they pick up the TV remote. But we’re also seeing signs that older adults are turning to the platform as part of their daily media diet too.

“Public service broadcasters are recognising this shift – moving to meet audiences in the online spaces where they increasingly spend their time. But we need to see even more ambition in this respect to ensure that public service media that audiences value survives long into the future.”

Generational divide

Overall, people spent 4% less time watching broadcast TV in 2024 than the previous year, with average viewing dropping to 2 hours 24 minutes a day on TV sets. This trend was particularly driven by young adults (16-24), who watched just 17 minutes of live TV daily. Only 45% of this age group tuned into broadcast TV weekly, down from 48% in 2023.

Less than a quarter of 16-24s’ in-home video viewing is now to broadcaster content, versus 90% for those aged 75 and over.

Overall, people watched content from video-on-demand platforms for an average of 40 minutes per day. Netflix continues to be the most popular service, watched for an average of 22 minutes per day, and accounting for more than half of all viewing on streaming platforms.

Festive favourites top the list of most-watched moments

But broadcasters proved they can still bring the nation together for shared major TV moments, with the BBC and ITV boasting the top three most-watched shows of 2024.  

Gavin and Stacy: The Finale (18.6 million) was the most watched programme last year, followed by Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (16.9 million), with the fourth episode of Mr Bates vs The Post Office (14.7 million) coming in third. The top two most-watched programmes both aired first on Christmas day.

The Spain v England Euro 2024 final was the most-watched live sports event of the year across the BBC, ITV and STV, with 19.8 million people tuning in on the day.

Netflix’s Adolescence was the most-watched TV event in the first quarter of 2025 with 12.2 million viewers until the end of March. This marked the first time a streaming title topped weekly TV ratings [2]. 

Picture2Podcasts eat up audio diets

Our Media Nations Report also has its ear to the ground on how the nation’s listening habits are evolving. More than nine in ten UK adults (93%) listen to some form of audio content each week, increasing to 98% of 16-34-year-olds. YouTube (47%) and Spotify (36%) are the most popular online audio services, while BBC Sounds is the most popular from a radio broadcaster (24%).

Music streaming and podcasts continue to be an important part of our audio diets, particularly for younger people. People aged 15-34 now spend more than half of their weekly listening time with streamed music and podcasts (58%, up from 40% in 2019), which is close to double the amount for the average listener (30%) [3].

Podcasts are also increasingly available in video as well as audio form. Platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and Global Player now regularly host video versions of UK podcasts, helping creators engage with broader audiences.

More top trends from our Media Nations reports are available on our news centre.

BBC response to investigation into the conduct of Gregg Wallace

BBC STATEMENT:

“We welcome the publication of the findings by Lewis Silkin, following the investigation into the conduct of Gregg Wallace. In light of these findings, Banijay UK and the BBC have agreed Mr Wallace’s return to MasterChef is untenable. The BBC has informed Mr Wallace we have no plans to work with him in future.

“The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years. This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.

“Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.

“We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year. We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.

“Lewis Silkin’s findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals. The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.

“The BBC will not be commenting further at this stage, but we are clear we expect the highest standards of respect at work to be upheld on the production.

““At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year. We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants.

“In April the BBC published a detailed response to an independent review of workplace culture, which reinforces expectations around behaviour and that we will act more decisively when standards are not met. This also requires all TV production partners to align with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) standards.

“We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.”

As far as Wallace is concerned, though, everyone else is to blame …

BBC to take immediate action as it publishes independent review into culture

The review heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers through one-to-one meetings, group discussions, a survey and written submissions

The BBC has said it will take immediate action to improve workplace culture, after publishing a comprehensive independent report. 

The report from Change Associates, led by Executive Chairman and Founder Grahame Russell, found no evidence of a toxic culture, but in a series of detailed findings and recommendations it highlighted key areas for improvement. 

The review heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers; through one-to-one meetings, group discussions, a survey and written submissions. The review was commissioned by the BBC Board in August 2024, with work beginning in October. 

The report – published today – found the majority of people who work for the BBC are proud to do so and describe loving their jobs.  

Some staff, however, thought there were a minority of people at the BBC – both on and off-air – who were able to behave unacceptably without it being addressed. 

“Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC’s culture and external reputation,” the report concludes. 

The BBC Board has fully accepted the report and its findings, as has BBC management. Both view it as a catalyst for meaningful change – to reinforce expectations around behaviour and act more decisively when standards are not met. 

BBC Chair Dr Shah told staff today: “There is a minority of people whose behaviour is simply not acceptable. And there are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.  

“The report makes several recommendations that prioritise action over procedural change – which is exactly right. It also addresses some deep-seated issues: for example, the need to make sure everyone can feel confident and not cowed about speaking up. 

“I support the idea that we need to reinforce the behavioural expectations and standards we have for everyone who works with or for the BBC.” 

He added: “In the end, it’s quite simple: if you are a person who is prepared to abuse power or punch down or behave badly, there is no place for you at the BBC.” 

Director-General Tim Davie said: “This report represents an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry. It provides clear, practical recommendations that we are committed to implementing at pace. I’m grateful to everyone who took part and contributed. 

“The action we are taking today is designed to change the experience of what it is to be at the BBC for everyone and to ensure the values we all sign up to when we arrive here – the values that, for most of us, are what made us want to come to the BBC in the first place – are lived and championed by the whole organisation each and every day.” 

The BBC is taking immediate action from today, including: 

  • Launching a refreshed and strengthened Code of Conduct, with specific guidance for on-air presenters. 
  • Implementing a more robust Disciplinary Policy, with updated examples of misconduct and clear consequences. 
  • Requiring all TV production partners to meet Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) industry standards. 
  • Rolling out a new ‘Call It Out’ campaign to promote positive behaviour, empower informal resolution where appropriate, and challenge poor conduct. 
  • Introducing clear Pledges for anyone raising concerns, setting out what they can expect from the BBC.  

The BBC will build on this over the coming months to embed long-term change by:  

  • Updating all future employment and freelance contracts to set out clear expectations around behaviour.  
  • Transforming how we manage concerns and cases, launching a new Resolving Concerns Helpline to help address issues earlier; providing a single point of contact for each case when concerns are raise, along with improved communication and support. To ensure cases are managed with rigour, consistency, and urgency, there will be investment in new resources to support those handling complex cases.  
  • Training all managers on our updated Code of Conduct and values and require them to lead regular team discussions on culture and behaviour.  
  • Introducing in-person inductions for all new joiners, with a strong emphasis on values and expected behaviours.  
  • Conducting regular, targeted culture checks within divisions to monitor sentiment, identify issues, and intervene swiftly where needed.  
  • Implementing succession planning for our most senior on-air roles.  
  • Expanding HR support with additional resources and capacity  

The Executive has agreed to update the Board on progress against its plan at regular intervals. 

BBC secures live television rights for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s international football matches

The BBC has announced it’s agreed an exclusive deal to broadcast Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men’s international football matches in the run-up to the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of BBC Nations, says: “I’m absolutely delighted that fans across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will now be able to enjoy live, free-to-air coverage of all the big international football matches.

“Nothing fires the imagination more than live international sport and the race to qualify for the world’s biggest tournament. It’s going to be quite a ride and I’m thrilled the BBC will be there every step of the way.”

The deal, agreed with UEFA, includes 41 live matches over the next fifteen months – starting with this month’s international ties. It’s the first time the BBC has secured live television rights for all three of the UK’s devolved nations.

The matches will be shown on BBC One in each nation and BBC iPlayer – with key fixtures also being broadcast on network television across the UK – and will add to existing live international coverage on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Cymru and the BBC Sport app.

In Wales, live match coverage will be available in both English and Welsh.

BBC Annual Report: Delivering for audiences and transforming for the future

The BBC’s annual report shows ‘a year of creative excellence and transformation against financial pressures and a challenging media market’

The report shows that the BBC is at the heart of national life and is the go-to media brand in the UK, with 95% of UK adults using our services on average per month, says the BBC’s Media Office. 

We continue to deliver for audiences across the UK, and abroad, but we know we must accelerate the pace of change to increase relevance and value in a time of limitless choice and interactivity.

In March, we set out a long-term ambitious plan to prioritise, and focus our resources on, three essential roles: to pursue truth with no agenda; to back the best homegrown storytelling; and to bring people together.

Samir Shah, BBC Chair, said: “The BBC matters deeply to the UK, and continues to play an important role on the global stage.

“With the Board, I look forward to overseeing progress with the solid plans in place to preserve the benefits of public service broadcasting for all, and to ensure the BBC can deliver for audiences well into the future.”

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, said: “This year’s Annual Report shows how we are transforming at pace to deliver for all audiences in the digital age.

“We remain firmly focussed on prioritising our resources into building a BBC for the future that can deliver crucial benefits for the UK at a critical time – and help support a healthy democracy, a thriving creative economy, and a strong society.”  

Content

More people, by far, get their news from the BBC than from any other source and – across all our services – 35 million UK adults came to the BBC per day across 2023/24.

We are now the only UK provider to appear in the top five most-used media brands for young people and it was another record-breaking year for BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer, with both seeing a significant increase in the number of weekly active accounts.

The BBC was the place to go for unmissable moments. We brought people together for the Coronation of King Charles III, watched by an average audience of 14.6 million, and the Eurovision Grand Final in Liverpool, watched by an average audience of 10 million on the night. 

We saw huge audiences for homegrown storytelling across all genres, from Doctor Who and Planet Earth III to Ghosts and The Traitors. It was an incredible year for distinctly British drama from across the UK, including Blue Lights, Shetland, Steeltown Murders, Sherwood and The Responder. 

BBC Radio continues to be the market leader in the audio space, with over 30 million adults listening on average per week – more than any other broadcast radio company or on-demand player. Radio 2 is the UK’s number one station overall, Radio 4 the number one speech station and 6 Music the biggest digital-only service. 

Across the UK

Our Across the UK plan remains mission critical and has now entered its second phase. It is currently on track to exceed its £700 million spend target outside of London. To date, the programme has seen the BBC deliver more than £200 million of cumulative investment across its programming and services, including more than 350 roles being relocated outside of London. Over 54% of our workforce are now based outside of London.

In 2023/24, the BBC achieved its target to spend 60% of the Network TV budget outside of London and we are on track to sustain this permanently by 2026. While 44% of total radio and music production spend was outside of London, and we are well on the way to achieving the 50% target by the end of the current Charter.

Transparency and impartiality

We’re building trust with our audiences with a laser-sharp focus on transparency, spearheaded by the launch of BBC Verify. The team fact-check, counter disinformation, analyse data and explain complex stories in the pursuit of truth. This year we’ll be taking BBC Verify to audiences worldwide. 

In May, we demonstrated our continued commitment to impartiality by publishing our second independent thematic review, on BBC coverage of migration, and announced the next review into our output on authentic and accurate portrayal and representation. 

Finance and commercial

BBC Studios achieved a solid year of performance, despite a backdrop of challenging trading conditions, with sales of £1.9 billion (2022/23: £2.1 billion). An increase to our borrowing limits has kickstarted further investment and the recent acquisition of streaming service BritBox International demonstrates our sustainable future growth plans.  

We aim to double our commercial business by 2027/28, generating additional content and funding for the BBC. 

While licences in force declined by 2% year-on-year, the vast majority of our audiences remained committed to paying the licence fee and 95% of public service spend was directed to content and its delivery.

In real terms, the licence fee generated 30% more income in 2010/11 than it does today – a difference of more than £1 billion a year. We have been clear that the significant funding pressure we are under means we need to make further savings, on top of the major savings and reinvestment we have already made, to deliver the most value for audiences. 

Transformation

We are becoming a leaner, more agile organisation, and we are accelerating our digital-first approach to reach audiences where they are. Public service roles continue to reduce this year, with headcount down 10% in the last five years; a reduction of almost 2,000 roles. 

Over the course of the next two years, we will look to further move the money we have into the priority areas that provide real value for audiences. This means, in public service, we will close and transfer roles in some areas, and create roles in growth areas. By the end of March 2026, we expect to see a total reduction of around 500 public service roles.

Workforce diversity

We’ve made progress towards our overall 50:20:12:25 Diversity and Inclusion targets for the year, but there is much to do to ensure we remain representative of our audiences as we get smaller as an organisation.  Disability and ethnicity are behind our expected ambition and both will be a focus of our refreshed D&I strategy which will be released in the coming year.

The report demonstrates delivery on all three of our key pillars. 

We pursue the truth with no agenda ;

  • 75% of UK adults use BBC News on average per week – well ahead of the next nearest provider 
  • 1.3m 12-15 year olds in the UK follow the news with the BBC – higher than any other organisation 
  • We carry the UK’s voice, values, and influence to a weekly audience of 450 million people worldwide 
  • We are the world’s most trusted international news provider 

We back the best homegrown storytelling;

  • We contributed almost £5 billion to the UK economy last year and for every £1 of the BBC’s direct economic activity, £2.63 is generated in the UK economy 
  • Half of our economic impact is outside London – versus 20% for the wider industry  
  • 99% of our original content is made in the UK – we are the largest single investor in UK-made programming. 
  • We won 14 BAFTA TV awards in 2024 – more than any other broadcaster or streamer 

We bring people together; 

  • BBC coverage reached 25.2m people in the UK on the day of the Coronation of HM The King and HM The Queen Consort  
  • There were a record 8.1bn streaming requests on BBC iPlayer – up 10% on the year before 
  • Of the UK’s top 10 most viewed programmes in 2023, seven were on the BBC, highlighting our ongoing importance and relevance for today’s audiences 
  • People spent 5hrs 44m watching BBC TV/iPlayer on average per week – more than all the big SVOD streamers combined 

Reforms to ‘boost confidence in the BBC’s impartiality and complaints system’ 

Government recommends reforms to boost public trust in the BBC following a review at the mid-point of its 11 year Charter

  • Review recommends greater independent scrutiny of complaints handling, improving transparency for commercial media organisations, and extending Ofcom oversight over more BBC online services 
  • BBC urged to better reflect diverse views and opinions in decision-making and improve engagement with underserved audience groups, among other key recommendations 

The Westminster government has recommended major reforms to help boost audience confidence in the BBC’s  impartiality and complaints system, following the first Mid-Term Review published by the government today.

Launched at the halfway point of the BBC’s 11 year Royal Charter, the Mid-Term Review evaluates the effectiveness of the governance and regulatory arrangements introduced by the Charter in 2017, with recommendations to ensure the best outcome for audiences. 

Audiences will be given greater certainty that their complaints about BBC TV, radio and on demand content – including concerns about bias – are dealt with fairly, through greater scrutiny of its complaints process, which is to be made more independent from programme makers. A new legally binding responsibility on the BBC Board will require it to actively oversee the BBC’s complaints process to assure audiences that their concerns are being fairly considered. 

In recognition that audiences are increasingly getting their news and watching content online, Ofcom oversight will be extended to parts of the BBC’s online public services, including the BBC News website, to enable Ofcom to hold the BBC to account in a more robust way.

And Ofcom will be given a new legally binding responsibility to review more of the BBC’s complaints decisions, meaning audiences can have greater confidence that their complaints have been handled fairly.

The Mid-Term Review stresses the need for the BBC to clearly demonstrate how it will meet its obligations on distinctiveness over the remainder of this Charter period, and for the BBC to meaningfully engage with its competitors, such as radio stations and local newspapers, when it is considering a change to its services.

The government consulted the BBC and Ofcom closely on the recommendations and expects them to be implemented in a timely manner. The government has also identified some key issues as a result of the Mid-Term Review that need to be further considered at the next Charter Review before 2027. 

In particular, we will continue to place a strong emphasis on impartiality and complaints, including reviewing the effectiveness of the BBC’s new social media guidelines and whether the BBC First model – formally introduced by the Charter in 2017 – process remains the right model for complaints, as well as how distinctive BBC output and services are from those of commercial providers.

The Government has highlighted these priorities for the next Charter in correspondence with the BBC. 

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The Government wants to see a strong, independent BBC that can thrive in the years to come as a major contributor to the nation’s successful creative industries. 

“In a rapidly changing media landscape the BBC needs to adapt or risk losing the trust of the audiences it relies on. Following constructive conservations with the BBC and Ofcom, we have recommended reforms that I believe will improve accountability while boosting public confidence in the BBC’s ability to be impartial and respond to concerns raised by licence fee payers.

“These changes will better set up the BBC to ask difficult questions of itself, and make sure Ofcom can continue to hold the broadcaster to account. We all rely on the BBC being the best it can be and this review will help ensure that is what the British public gets.”

Complaints and impartiality 

The Mid-Term Review has concluded that the BBC’s complaints process introduced at the last Charter Review in 2017, known as BBC First – where audience complaints are normally addressed by the BBC before they can be escalated to Ofcom – allows licence fee payers to hold the BBC directly accountable. 

However, impartiality continues to be an ongoing issue for audiences, with concerns about the broadcaster’s objectivity making up the majority of complaints about the BBC’s editorial content. The review highlights a lack of public confidence in the way the BBC currently handles complaints.

Following challenging and constructive conversations with the government, the BBC will introduce reforms to enhance the independent scrutiny of its complaints handling and further improve the experience of viewers who make a complaint. 

The BBC Board previously had a responsibility to oversee only the establishment of a complaints handling process. We are now giving the entire Board the responsibility to oversee how that process is working in practice. Furthermore, the non-executive board directors and external advisors on the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee will be given greater powers to scrutinise and challenge how BBC senior management responds to complaints. 

The job role which has responsibility for complaints handling now reports directly to the Director General rather than the Director responsible for editorial policy, separating pre-broadcast editorial policy and post-broadcast complaints resolution.

Currently Ofcom regulates the BBC’s TV, radio and on demand output, but not other elements of its online content. The government has committed to extending Ofcom regulation to other elements of the BBC’s online public service material in order to give audiences confidence that the BBC is being held to greater account across its digital services. The government expects this to apply to BBC branded content on third party websites, applications and other online interfaces over which the BBC has editorial control – including the BBC News website and the BBC’s YouTube channel.

The review recommends the BBC materially improves the experience of audiences when lodging a complaint by giving clearer explanations of the process and the roles of the BBC and Ofcom, to ensure licence fee payers are not put off from sharing their views. The review also recommends Ofcom improves the transparency of its decision making when considering whether to open a formal investigation into content that the BBC has found has breached its own editorial standards. This will help audiences to better understand whether Ofcom is taking further regulatory action and why.

At Charter Review, the government is committing to examining whether BBC First remains the right complaints model to enable the BBC to deliver against its responsibility to serve all audiences.

To help the BBC go further to tackle perceptions of bias, the review also recommends that the BBC publishes more information about the work it is doing to strengthen the impartiality of its editorial content, including to illustrate the impact it’s having.

The BBC’s impact on the wider market 

Looking at the BBC’s impact on the UK media landscape, the review sets out that the BBC must clearly demonstrate how it effectively balances delivering for licence fee payers and supporting the UK’s wider creative industries when making decisions about how its services and output are distinctive. This is increasingly important given broader structural trends in some of the markets in which the BBC operates, such as online local news, and will be an important question for the Charter Review.

Meaningful engagement with competitors should be strengthened and the BBC must be more transparent when it seeks to make changes to its services. This higher standard of engagement and transparency should support other businesses operating in the same markets as the BBC, including commercial radio stations and local news publishers. The government has recommended that Ofcom publish an annual high-level view on the BBC’s position in the local news sector, as it does for other sectors, to provide further clarity.

The government has also recommended that the BBC develop a public strategy outlining how it will partner with others, and provide competitors with greater clarity on how it will make decisions on partnerships. 

While the government supports the BBC’s ambitious plans to grow its commercial revenue, and has found that the governance and regulation of its commercial activities works effectively, the impact of  any changes, such as the introduction of a BBC Commercial Board in 2022, needs to be closely monitored.

Diversity

As a national broadcaster, the BBC has a duty in its Charter to accurately reflect, represent and serve diverse communities across the UK, both on and off the screen. 

While the BBC has said it is committed to improving representation, the review recommends it considers how diversity of thought and opinion could be better reflected in its decision-making. Some audience groups, for example, disabled viewers and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, feel underrepresented by the BBC. We recommend that the BBC works to ensure engagement with these groups is sufficient to best understand their specific needs and concerns. 

Eurovision 2023 scores douze points for the BBC as it becomes the most watched Grand Final ever

The Eurovision Grand Final saw a 5 min peak of 11 million, average of 9.9 million and share of 63%

BBC Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips says: “What an incredible Contest! It was unforgettable, unmissable event television on a scale never seen before delivered by the BBC to viewers across the UK and millions more watching around the world.

“Sweden took home the trophy in spectacular style and 2022 winners Ukraine were at the heart of the show.

“Liverpool welcomed the world’s biggest singing competition with open arms and embraced it beyond all of our expectations.

The fact that so many millions of people tuned in reflects just how significant Eurovision has become and truly underlines the theme behind this year’s contest, United by Music. We really hope we did Ukraine proud.”