State broadcaster acts as state broadcaster - nobody treated for shock

BBC accused of breaching impartiality guidelines over civil service secondments in newsroom

The BBC has been accused of breaching impartiality guidelines after it was revealed civil servants were tasked with writing articles and fact-checking controversial issues for the newsroom.

Fast-stream graduates and Civil Service managers were placed inside the corporation, where they worked on "high-impact, sensitive topics" including Channel crossings by small boats and the Covid pandemic.

Their output appeared on the BBC website under bylines identifying them as part of "BBC News" and "BBC Verify", with no indication of their government employment.

TV licence renewal - email scams

We've been receiving loads of scam TV licence renewal emails over the past few weeks. Well not loads, but we've received about 10 so far. They claim our direct debit hasn't processed properly and invite us to click a button to sort it out.

As we don't have a TV licence because we don't need one, never set up a direct debit, the licence reference number is wrong and it is trivially easy to see that the email doesn't come from TV Licencing...

Well it's desperately unimpressive if scam standards are declining too.

I blame climate change.

The lingering demise of the BBC is a gigantic bluff

BBC begins move towards online-only TV – these channels and shows are at risk

More channels could be axed following the closure of BBC Three and BBC Scotland as the corporation begins its move to an online-only future.

The BBC is poised to shut the two poorly-performing TV channels next week and move their content online, sources claim, as the broadcaster seeks to make £500m in savings and avert a financial crisis. The future of the Radio 4 Extra archive channel is also under scrutiny.

The closures would also kick-start a wider strategy, which could ultimately mean the end of scheduled channels like BBC One, with viewers instead finding programmes on-demand on iPlayer, under genre headings like Drama, Entertainment, News and Sport.


The slow, soap-opera crumbling of BBC finances seems intended to squeeze every drop of sympathy for, or at least acceptance of a last minute rescue by the UK Government. Which is inevitable of course.

I'm reminded of the arts being described as a gigantic bluff in one of Somerset Maugham's short stories. The lingering, constantly reported financial demise of the BBC is a gigantic bluff too.

She had a natural and healthy contempt for the arts. She genuinely looked upon the whole thing as a gigantic bluff, and deep down in her heart was an amused sympathy for all the people who were able to put it over on the public.

W. Somerset Maugham - The Voice of the Turtle (1935)

A very bad, bad, bad, bad, bad call

David Dimbleby ‘appalled’ by BBC making ‘very bad call’ to cut up to 2,000 jobs

David Dimbleby has said he is “appalled” by cuts at the BBC which will result in up to 2,000 people losing their jobs.

The national broadcaster aims to make £500 million in savings over two years, with job cuts announced in April set to take place over the next three years.

Speaking to Radio Times, the former Question Time host, 87, expressed his dismay at the decision.

“Why on earth have they done that? The best analysis of politics, both national and international… I’m appalled. Very bad, bad, bad, bad, bad call,” he said.

Oh come on David, the dear old BBC is doing its best to insert its clammy corporate hand into the taxpayer's pocket - what more do you want?

Do we assume that a BBC subscription service would be a very bad, bad, bad, bad, bad call in your world? Does it hand over too much choice to the plebs - something like that?

Do we also assume that having to pay for a BBC licence merely to watch live events on paid subscription services such as Sky is not  a very bad, bad, bad, bad, bad call?

Translating BBC Newspeak

New BBC boss pushes for new 'household levy' to replace licence fee: All would have to pay

levy = tax

Director-general Matt Brittin said he was 'open to all options' to fund the broadcasting giant after it was revealed that licence fee income has dropped by more than £1billion in real terms in the last decade.

open = not open

'We need universality, we need sufficiency,' he added.

need = want

A household levy would mean everyone pays a mandatory fee to the BBC regardless of whether people watch or listen to its programmes. The charge could be levied alongside utility bills, proponents of the idea say.

fee = tax

Mr Brittin stressed the need for the BBC to reinvent itself.

reinvent = entrench

And so on - BBC Newspeak, a special survival version. 

No longer fit for purpose

BBC boss says £180 TV licence fee is no longer fit for purpose

The BBC's new director-general has described the current £180 TV licence fee as "no longer fit for purpose", saying the broadcaster is being held back by a funding model that no longer reflects how people watch television.

Matt Brittin made the comments as he appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the future of the BBC. The former Google executive, who succeeded Tim Davie almost seven weeks ago, said the corporation needed a funding model that matched modern viewing habits while continuing to provide universal and sustainable funding.

On and on it goes, but the phrase "held back" is interesting. Held back from what? Held back from more money presumably, held back by people deciding that BBC quality isn't worth the licence fee.

Yet if the BBC is no longer fit for purpose, then we are bound to ask which purpose Mr Brittin has in mind to ensure BBC survival. We are bound to ask what Mr Brittin has to offer the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in return for survival. That's what must be on the table, however discreetly obscured, human nature tells us it's on the table.

Is impartial reporting and analysis of government policy and activity on the table? Hardly that, to ask the question is to answer it.

Welcome to the Club

New BBC boss Matt Brittin issues warning amid cost-saving plan

The BBC’s newly appointed director-general, Matt Brittin, has declared the corporation faces a significant challenge to "move faster and change to adapt to the world around us".

Mr Brittin, who succeeded Tim Davie in the role last month, spoke after he attended an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where the 57-year-old received a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from the Prince of Wales.

Welcome to the Club.

Brittin attended the investiture ceremony on Wednesday accompanied by his 92-year-old mother Shirley, his son Nick and his wife Kate, and said he and William exchanged a few words about his new job.

“He was very kind,” Brittin said.

“I’ve met him a few times over the years through his charitable work.

But of course, you are already a Club member.

He further told PA he believes tackling misinformation and improving media literacy are among the BBC’s main challenges ahead.

“At the BBC, we’re concerned about making sure that audiences get incredible quality journalism and creative storytelling that’s homegrown in the UK,” he said.

As ever, the language is interesting, such as "incredible quality journalism" when "credible journalism" would be an improvement. 

The BBC’s unusual tactic

The BBC’s unusual tactic to get people to pay the licence fee

A cash-strapped BBC is exploring new ways to claw back millions in unpaid TV licence fees, with the broadcaster issuing reminders during its 2026 World Cup coverage.

Audiences watching matches on the BBC at home may have noticed an on-screen prompt to pay the £180 charge as they tuned in to coverage in recent days.

During Brazil’s game against Morocco, a TV licence fee reminder in the form of a QR code, alongside the words “Buy a TV licence. Scan the QR code”, appeared as players returned to the pitch after half-time...

A TV Licensing spokesperson said: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.”


The language is always interesting such as "supporting people" and "correctly licenced". Supporting people with millions of threatening letters presumably. Plus "supporting" emails as we recently discovered.

It's also interesting to speculate about the near future. For example -

An Internet Licensing spokesperson said: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.”

A Digital ID spokesperson said: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly identified.”

Clearly unsustainable

BBC 'loses 300,000' licence payers as 'clearly unsustainable' licence fee considered

The BBC lost 300,000 licence fee payers in the last 12 months, an MP told the Commons as the corporation came under pressure, announcing major job cuts. At Culture, Media and Sport, a Tory MP branded the BBC's financial model 'clearly unsustainable'.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is overseeing a comprehensive review of the BBC's funding and governance to ensure the broadcaster remains financially sustainable and independent for decades. Her review, launched in late 2025 as part of the Charter renewal process, focuses on modernising how the BBC is funded as viewing habits change.

Conservative Nigel Huddleston said: "Last year the BBC lost another 300,000 licence fee payers. The BBC's current scale and financial model is clearly unsustainable. Yesterday the BBC announced controversial cuts, including "The World Tonight" and "Money Box Live", without anyone in Parliament expressing a view. That is not right.

Below is a good question from the comments, but it's no good expecting a coherent answer from Lisa Nandy, her job is to make sure the state broadcaster survives. 

Lee Simpson
I haven't watched the BBC in years, yet I still have to pay the licence fee because I like to watch live football on Sky Sports which I also pay a subscription for. I am basically paying twice. Why?

BBC Folk

It’s remarkable how easy it has become to guess that certain people rely heavily on BBC News for their grasp of current affairs. They emphasise and de-emphasise as the BBC does, ignore what the BBC ignores, exaggerate what the BBC exaggerates.

The most striking aspect is how easy it is to detect. Not so much a lack of curiosity, but comfortably managed curiosity. Heavily managed in the case of the BBC.

Rupert v Tim

Where BBC Director-General Tim Davie comes across as an uneasy civil servant on shaky ground.

 

Designed for another era

BBC plans for end of the licence fee as we know it

The BBC warned that the the licence fee is in “irreversible” decline and urged the Government to back a new, “fairer” funding mechanism, which could see people pay less.

Rising levels of evasion and non-payment, which cost the corporation more than £1bn last year, require an overhaul of a charge “designed for another era”, which is set to rise to £180 in April...

In its proposals to change the licence fee, which last year brought in £3.8bn of revenue, the BBC pointed to the German system where citizens pay a “digital public service media” tax of €18.36 (£16) per month regardless of whether they watch or listen to the nation’s equivalent of the BBC...

In a stark warning to the Government, Tim Davie, the outgoing director general, said: “The choice is clear: back the BBC or watch it decline, the status quo is not an option.

“Clear decisions are needed to ensure the BBC is funded sustainably and fairly so it can continue to deliver, both for audiences and the country.”

There is at least some interest to be gleaned from the way language is distorted here. Not much though, this creepy idea has been foreseen for years, it can't possibly be imposed honestly so they don't bother.

a new, “fairer” funding mechanism

a “digital public service media” tax

ensure the BBC is funded sustainably and fairly

Knock Knock

ONS chief airs concerns over TV portrayal in drama Industry

Office for National Statistics boss Darren Tierney has written to the head of the BBC to complain about the representation of ONS field interviewers in a recent episode of Industry, a financial thriller about City traders.

Tierney, who joined the ONS as permanent secretary in August, said the episode had “caused worry” among staff.

In the letter, sent to BBC director general Tim Davie earlier this month, he said: “I am writing following a recent episode of one of the BBC’s television programmes ‘Industry’, in which characters gained entry to a household by impersonating interviewers from the Office for National Statistics. While I fully appreciate the creative freedom that drama affords, and that it’s a well-received series rooted in various excesses, this particular storyline has nevertheless caused worry among our interviewers.”

Presumably the problem could have been avoided if those characters had impersonated TV licence officers instead. Simple solution, I'm surprised the BBC didn't spot it.

Sinking, sinking...

An opportunity or a threat? How YouTube overtook the BBC

According to official ratings agency Barb, the Google-owned platform now attracts a larger audience than all of the BBC channels combined.

In December, the BBC attracted 50.8 million viewers, compared with almost 52 million who tuned into YouTube on their televisions, smartphones or laptops.

Meanwhile we're off to Tesco this morning for a spot of food shopping. Even that is more interesting than the BBC. More sustaining too.

Replace two words by one

BBC to review Middle East coverage in wake of bias scandal

The BBC is to review its coverage of the Middle East after admitting to multiple problems with its reporting of the war in Gaza.

The broadcaster has accepted that it must “learn lessons” after allegations of bias were exposed by The Telegraph last month.


In typical BBC fashion, an endemic problem is ignored in favour of a much narrower focus on a particular criticism, as if an ingrained corporate cultural problem is merely some technical breach of otherwise secure procedures. 

How about -

BBC to review all coverage in wake of bias scandal

Or just defund the absurd outfit.

Premium content

Free TV licences for benefits claimants under Labour plans

The prospect of the potential handout comes as Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, faces criticism for failing to get more Britons off benefits and into work, with spending on benefits on course to hit £378bn by 2029-30.

Elsewhere in the consultation report, which comes at a time of crisis for the broadcaster, it was suggested the corporation could raise money with a “top-up subscription service” offering premium content, including repeats on iPlayer.


Anyone with even a few molecules of scepticism in their constitution is bound to wonder if 'premium content' includes Panorama. 

It probably won't include 'BBC Parliament' though. The average daily viewing time for that programme as logged by Barb for July was three seconds. Even BBC Scotland managed ten seconds.

When the BBC Might as Well be Replaced With AI

A short piece in Climate Skeptic where Chris Morrison makes an interesting point about the BBC and Net Zero. Interesting because the point made won't stop there. 


If the BBC Never Questions Net Zero it Might as Well be Replaced With Cheaper AI

What's the point of employing so many journalists just to regurgitate the official line?...

Opinions may differ, but suitably prompted AI could easily replicate much of the climate output of the BBC over the last two decades.

Slow Learners

BBC cuts Trump criticism after bias row

The BBC has been forced to cut a line from its Reith Lectures calling Donald Trump “the most openly corrupt president in American history”.

Rutger Bregman, a Dutch Left-wing historian and philosopher, was invited to give the BBC lecture at Broadcasting House last month.

But when his speech was broadcast on Radio 4 on Tuesday morning, his description of the US president was edited out following legal advice.


By gum, I bet that lesson took some swallowing by BBC sloths. It's not only the bias, it's a bland refusal to adapt which ought to seal the fate of the BBC.


Bregman previously made an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2019, berating the attendees for refusing to address “the real issue of tax avoidance by the rich”.

His 2017 book, Utopia for Realists, advocated for open borders and a 15-hour working week.

The ship goes down but the band plays on

BBC journalist probed by secret services over China spying allegations

A BBC journalist is under investigation by the UK’s security services over alleged links to Chinese espionage, according to reports.

Sources told the Mail on Sunday that the journalist is suspected of cultivating potential targets for a hostile state while previously working in Brussels for another media outlet.

The person remains employed by the BBC, which has refused the Mail’s request for comment.

We're off to Sainsbury's soon. We don't eat popcorn, but may increase our stock of dark chocolate. In spite of everything, life threatens to become amusing. 

If Seaside Ange elbows her way back into the political circus, this winter could become quite jolly. Until the bills come in I suppose. 

The ship goes down but the band plays on.

The BBC must lose

Kevin Myers has a powerful Brussels Signal piece on the BBC/Trump debacle.


Theodore Roosevelt urged, Speak softly and carry a big stick. Donald Trump urges: Bellow like hell and swing a two-handed, double-edged, nuclear-tipped claymore. Different forays, different mores. So MAGA takes on the taxpayer-subsidised cult that is the BBC, the Battle of the Capitals, and by God, the Beeb deserves whatever it gets. It is a cult that lies repeatedly, but operating at so many levels of dysfunctionality that it can blandly deny “knowledge” about the many things that it really should know. Yet when dissenters to its liberal dogmas are being interviewed, they can usually expect a well-researched gotcha gin-trap, that will leave an interviewee limping out of the studio and a small smirk sewn onto an interviewer’s face.

Yes we know about BBC bias and dishonesty, but it's well worth reading the whole piece because a dose of healthy vituperation can be good for the soul. It's good for mine anyway.

So the BBC’s armed forays into the language and culture wars in the liberal interest reveal the power of the schismatic toxins within the anglophone world. Trump’s extraordinary achievement has been to recognise the loathing that ordinary people feel for these liberal disorders and to turn it into a powerful political movement. However, the triumph of Mamdani – a name that means “follower of Mohammed” (what a surprise) – has revealed not merely the limits of that power, but also the depth of the divisions within the Judaeo-Christian communities in the USA. But for now, that is a longer-term issue: Next comes the battle between the BBC and Trump. For the sake of the British people and what little remains of their values, the BBC must lose.