BBC must be free of political interference, viewers say

Less than half of BBC viewers responding to a major survey sent out by the broadcaster think the institution is effective in being independent from the government.

More than 870,000 people answered questions online about the BBC and its place in society.

While 91 per cent of those surveyed said it was important for the BBC to be independent from the then government, only 43 per cent said they thought it had succeeded effectively in practice. 38 percent said they thought it was ineffective.

BBC director general Tim Davie said the results showed “our audiences want an independent BBC that delivers high-quality programs and content they can trust”.

The BBC invited viewers to have their say in a series of live trailers on TV and radio. It also sent emails to 40 million BBC account holders.

The results of the Our BBC, Our Future survey come as the relationship between the BBC and the government comes under the spotlight.

Culture Minister Lisa Nandy appeared likely to call for Mr Davie’s resignation this summer, following a series of scandals including anti-Semitic comments by Glastonbury punk duo Bob Vylan aired on iPlayer and the revelation that the Gaza documentary was narrated by the son of a Hamas official.

Former BBC news director in August James Harding spoke at the Edinburgh Television Festival He said Nandy’s involvement in the Bob Vylan scandal was “chilling” and criticized “political interference” or the perception of it at the BBC.

Last year BBC chief Samir Shah said there was “almost constant government scrutiny of the BBC” as a result of ministers’ obligation to renew the broadcaster’s royal charter every 10 years.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised about the BBC’s independence with the election of former Tory donor and Rishi Sunak’s former boss Richard Sharp as BBC chairman in 2021. Mr Sharp resigned two years later over his links to Boris Johnson.

Also in 2021, Theresa May’s former communications chief Sir Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC board.

Another big gap identified by the survey results was the percentage of respondents who thought the BBC should reflect the different parts of the UK and the people who live there (76%), and the percentage who thought this was actually the case (51%).

“These are the gaps that need to be worked on and addressed as a priority as we discuss the future of the BBC and plan how we can better serve the public,” the BBC said.

The survey also found:

• 80% of respondents said it was important for the company to provide high-quality digital services, while 78% said the BBC should offer something for everyone
• 82% said it was important to provide a valuable public service, while 76% said it should be a world-class asset to the UK
• 83 per cent said it was important for the BBC to continue its mission to inform, educate and entertain
• 78% of respondents said the BBC should offer something for everyone, but only 59% said it was effective in delivering this

In his statement, Mr Davie described the response to the survey as “incredible” and said it “showed how much people care about the BBC”.

“I believe the BBC has never been more needed, both in the UK and around the world,” he said.

“The results of the survey are clear – our viewers want an independent BBC that delivers high-quality programs and content they can trust, telling the stories that matter to them and reflect their lives.”

Mr Davie thanked those in attendance, adding: “We’re here to reach UK audiences and we’ll take everything they tell us with us as we shape the future of the BBC.”