London – A new BBC survey, “Our BBC, Our Future,” launched wiht widespread outreach to its audience, reveals significant concern among viewers about political interference in the broadcaster’s operations, coming as scrutiny of the BBC’s independence intensifies.
The BBC solicited feedback through on-air promotions and direct interaction with its 40 million account holders, seeking input on its future direction.
The call for audience views follows a summer of controversy that saw Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy seemingly request the resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie. this followed incidents including the broadcast on iPlayer of antisemitic comments made by the punk duo bob Vylan at Glastonbury, and the disclosure that a documentary concerning Gaza was narrated by the son of a Hamas official.
In August, James Harding, former BBC director of news, described Nandy’s intervention in the Bob Vylan matter as “chilling” at the Edinburgh TV Festival, and voiced criticism of “political interference,” or the *perception* of it, within the BBC.
Concerns over government oversight have been longstanding. Last year, BBC chair Samir Shah acknowledged an “almost perpetual government review over the BBC” due to the decennial renewal process for the broadcaster’s royal charter.
Past appointments have also fueled questions about impartiality. In 2021, Richard Sharp, a former Tory donor and previous employer of Rishi Sunak, was appointed BBC chair, resigning two years later following revelations about his connections to Boris Johnson. Also in 2021, Sir Robbie gibb, theresa May’s former communications chief, joined the BBC board.
