Get rid of the BBC? Careful what you wish for…

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Years ago, I was on a cruise along the Turkish coast with a captain who only spoke a little English, mostly just asking for tips. Somehow, through casual conversation, he found out I worked for the BBC. For the next three days, I was called to meals with a loud shout of “BBC” that resonated throughout the ship.

The BBC used to be a globally respected brand, alongside names like Coca-Cola and the NHS. Now, it’s facing a major crisis. Recent scandals, including the mishandling of an edit to a 2021 Donald Trump speech, have led to the resignations of the BBC‘s Director-General and the CEO of BBC News. On Monday, the BBC Chair, Samir Shah, publicly apologized for the mistake that caused the uproar.

Tim Davie’s departure speech acknowledged the significant pressures of leading British media for the past five years. His tenure has been marked by several high-profile on-air personalities leaving their roles due to issues ranging from criminal allegations (Huw Edwards), questionable conduct (Gregg Wallace), to political controversies (Carol Vorderman, Gary Lineker).

The recent exits of Davie and Deborah Furness feel strikingly similar to what happened in 2004. I remember the emotional goodbyes after Greg Dyke resigned as Director-General, along with the Board Chairman, following government complaints about the reporting on the Iraq dossier. The dossier, as reporter Andrew Gilligan claimed, was exaggerated to build a case for war. We all know how that situation unfolded.

I’ve been following the BBC situation closely, and honestly, this feels much worse than previous controversies. Unlike before, there’s a real threat to its very existence. A leaked memo revealed the BBC tried to investigate its own mistakes with an outside report, but that report – and the fact they even did it – has just fueled the fire on both sides. Some believe it’s a politically motivated attempt to destroy the BBC, while others see this secrecy as proof that now, with the Charter Renewal just two years away, is the time to completely dismantle the 103-year-old organization and start over, creating something better suited for today’s world.

You need to be careful about what you ask for. The BBC definitely has its problems – I wince at some of its efforts to appeal to younger audiences, like acquiring the rights to Drag Race long after it was popular, briefly removing BBC Three from traditional TV before having to bring it back at a high cost, and building entire programming schedules around events like Eurovision with a bit too much pride. They also seem to use the same presenters far too often.

Despite everything changing, the BBC remains the benchmark for quality television, not only in the UK but globally. People from other countries often mention shows like The Goodies, Doctor Who, and Kenny Everett as key parts of their childhood viewing. They’re often surprised to discover that acclaimed dramas like Brideshead Revisited and Downton Abbey weren’t actually made by the BBC, because they seem so perfectly suited to the channel. This highlights how the BBC’s strong production values and training programs have consistently benefited the entire broadcasting industry.

Many countries, including Canada, Australia, and South Africa, have created their own public broadcasters modeled after the BBC, aiming for qualities like trustworthiness and credibility. It’s disheartening that while these international broadcasters thrive and build upon that original concept, our own national broadcaster is struggling to prove its value.

Winston Churchill famously said democracy is imperfect, but still the best option – and the BBC is similar. Consider Russia and surrounding countries: their television is controlled by the state and used for propaganda. Then look at American TV, which is overwhelmingly focused on profit, with ad breaks starting almost immediately. What once seemed amusing to outsiders has become a blatant and aggressive pursuit of commercial gain.

The BBC is facing pressure from both government regulations and competition from other media companies. Despite these challenges, it continues to offer a mix of reliable, informative programming alongside high-quality, though often costly, entertainment – a unique combination it excels at. While the BBC could benefit from updates and improvements, it’s important to preserve its core strengths. Losing it would significantly change our media landscape and leave us all worse off.

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2025-11-10 18:34