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BBC needs to get a grip quicker after controversies, Ofcom chief says

BBC needs to get a grip quicker after controversies, Ofcom chief says

Yahoo2 days ago
The BBC needs to "get a grip quicker" and complete reports and investigations sooner following controversies such as the broadcast of Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, the head of regulator Ofcom has said.
Dame Melanie Dawes said the corporation had "some own goals" over its handling of the punk-rap duo's performance last month and a documentary about Gaza that was withdrawn in February.
At Glastonbury Bob Vylan led a chant of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" and made other derogatory comments.
The BBC previously issued an apology to viewers, especially the Jewish community, and promised to take action to "ensure proper accountability".
Reports into both broadcasts are expected to be published soon.
The review looking into the broadcast of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone is due to be published next week, Dame Meanie said. The programme was pulled by the BBC after a link between its 13-year-old narrator and Hamas emerged.
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Dame Melanie said: "I think it's very frustrating that the BBC has had some own goals in this area, with the Gaza documentary and then with the Glastonbury coverage, and it does start to erode public trust and confidence.
"I think I would say that, above all what frustrates me and others, is that when these things go wrong it can take a long time for the BBC to see that something's happened when everybody else was there within a matter of hours.
"So I would say to the BBC I think they need to get a grip quicker, get these reports and investigations concluded sooner, otherwise there is a real risk of a sort of loss of confidence in the BBC, which is a shame."
On the review into the Gaza documentary, a BBC spokesperson said findings will be published as soon as possible, adding: "It is vital that this work is done as quickly as possible, but it must also be thorough and follow a proper process."
The BBC is also expected to answer a series of questions asked by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy over the Bob Vylan performance.
In a letter to Director General Tim Davie, Nandy asked him to explain by 14 July the broadcast delays, staffing, decisions making, contingency plans and the next steps.
The BBC also said it will no longer broadcast live performances deemed "high risk" - as Bob Vylan had been assessed - and its director of music, Lorna Clarke, also reportedly stepped back from her day-to-day duties.
Did BBC's focus on one potential Glastonbury controversy miss another?
Police launch criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap Glastonbury sets
Asked on the programme whether Dame Melanie had faith in the BBC leadership, she replied: "I think it is a tough job at the top of the BBC.
"I think the [BBC] Board and senior team need to get a bit quicker at recognising when something has gone wrong and get a grip of the actions that they need to take or there is going to be a real risk that the BBC loses confidence in what it delivers for the public.
"We are going to have to see over the next week, I think we are expecting the Gaza report early in the coming week. We have asked a lot of questions about the Glastonbury coverage, the BBC has got a lot on its plate that it needs to address.
"I think it is important to also recognise that they do deliver a very high-quality job for the public usually, but it is these own goals that are very frustrating they need to be quicker to get on to, quicker to grip and quicker to put right."
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the programme the BBC needed "to do a rapid investigation of what has happened in relation to the Glastonbury incident".
She said: "They need to do it thoroughly because at the end of the day the BBC needs to maintain the trust of its audience."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Bob Vylan was "inciting violence and hatred" and suggested the BBC should be prosecuted for broadcasting the footage.
"There should be an investigation and if, in the police's opinion, the Crown Prosecution Service's opinion, there is a reasonable prospect of conviction then it should be taken to court.
"That's the right process and they should go through that, for sure. There's no exemption just because it's the BBC."
Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival
Starmer criticises 'appalling' Bob Vylan IDF chants
Bob Vylan coverage should have been pulled, BBC says
Chief rabbi attacks BBC for airing 'vile Jew hate' at Glastonbury
Bob Vylan: Who are the controversial rap-punk duo?
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John Torode confirms he is man accused of racism in Gregg Wallace report
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time24 minutes ago

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John Torode confirms he is man accused of racism in Gregg Wallace report

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Nadiya Hussain describes brutal BBC exit for the first time
Nadiya Hussain describes brutal BBC exit for the first time

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time25 minutes ago

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Nadiya Hussain describes brutal BBC exit for the first time

Nadiya Hussain has spoken out on her BBC exit for the first time, claiming she felt that her TV career had been a "tickbox exercise". She claimed of her experiences with the BBC: "The second you don't fit the neat little box, there'll be no space for you. I don't fit that space any more." The baker and TV cook found fame after winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015 and went on to present a number of cooking shows at the BBC, as well as publishing recipe books. But in June, she released a statement on social media saying that she hadn't been recommissioned, adding: "As a Muslim woman, I work in an industry that doesn't always support people like me or recognise my talent or full potential." Now, Hussain has given her side of the story to Paul C. Brunson for his We Need To Talk podcast, where she also claimed to have made complaints about her treatment on unnamed shows which she says were ignored. 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Tim Davie condemns ‘serious racist term' used by John Torode
Tim Davie condemns ‘serious racist term' used by John Torode

Yahoo

time38 minutes ago

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Tim Davie condemns ‘serious racist term' used by John Torode

BBC director-general Tim Davie has condemned the 'serious racist term' used by presenter John Torode, after it was announced his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed. Australian-born Torode, 59, started presenting MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace in 2005. On Monday night, Torode confirmed he was the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of his co-presenter Wallace. In an interview with BBC News on Tuesday, Davie said he saw the situation as an opportunity for the corporation to 'reset'. He said he was not directly involved with the matter but was told about the recommendation not to renew Torode's contract and was 'happy that the team were taking action'. He went on: 'It's really important that we are taking this seriously. It's a reset where we make sure that people are living up to the values we expect across the board.' Asked exactly what Torode said, Davie replied: 'I'm not going to give you the exact term, because I think, frankly it was serious racist term, a serious racist term, which does not get to be acceptable in any way, shape or form.' A statement from production company Banijay UK released earlier said: 'In response to John Torode's statement, it is important to stress that Banijay UK takes this matter incredibly seriously. 'The legal team at Lewis Silkin that investigated the allegations relating to Gregg Wallace also substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018. 'This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint. 'Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.' The Lewis Silkin report, commissioned by Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language. Torode confirmed on Monday night he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. A BBC spokesperson said: 'John Torode has identified himself as having an upheld allegation of using racist language against him. 'This allegation – which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace – was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. John Torode denies the allegation. 'He has stated he has no recollection of the alleged incident and does not believe that it happened. He also says that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. 'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and, as we have already said, we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. 'John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.' Davie insisted MasterChef does have a future with the broadcaster beyond 2028, when its current deal runs out, while presenting the corporation's 2024/2025 annual report earlier on Tuesday. Davie said: 'I absolutely think it does (have a future), I think a great programme that's loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals. 'It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.' Downing Street has said it 'utterly condemns' any instance of racist language after the allegation made against Torode was upheld. 'When it comes to racism (it) clearly has no place at the BBC or anywhere in society, and we utterly condemn any instances of racist language or abuse in the strongest possible terms,' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said. 'And it's obviously up to the BBC, who are operationally independent from Government, to take forward any necessary next steps.' It comes after the BBC addressed the future of a series of MasterChef filmed last year, which has not yet been aired, on Monday, saying they had not made a final decision on broadcasting it. A spokesperson for the corporation said: '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.' The MasterChef upheaval comes as the BBC faces scrutiny over the Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary which, after a review, was found to have breached the corporation's editorial guidelines on accuracy. The corporation has also been criticised over its coverage of Glastonbury, particularly the live stream of punk duo Bob Vylan's set, during which singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity. He became a familiar face to TV audiences in 1996 as the resident chef on ITV's This Morning, before joining MasterChef alongside Wallace when it was known as MasterChef Goes Large.

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