BBC broke impartiality rules by airing Russell T Davies interview

BBC admits it broke its impartiality rules by broadcasting interview with Russell T Davies at Baftas in which he attacked government plans to scrap licence fee and sell off Channel 4

• The returning Doctor Who showrunner told BBC News viewers: ‘vote differently’
• A clip of the interview with the It’s A Sin Writer at the Baftas was used in a report
• Russell T Davies, 59, was with new doctor Ncuti Gatwa and slammed C4 selloff 
• The BBC said report was ‘not balanced by any reflection of Government policy’

The BBC has admitted to breaching its own impartiality rules after airing an interview with returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies at the Baftas where he attacked the government.

In the interview, the It’s a Sin writer, 59, slammed government plans to sell off Channel 4 and for ‘trying to get rid of the licence fee’, and urged viewers to ‘vote differently’.

The clip was originally recorded live outside the Bafta awards on May 8 and then used in a later report which broke impartiality rules because it was ‘not balanced by any reflection of Government policy’.

Speaking about It’s A Sin receiving seven Bafta TV nominations, Mr Davies told BBC News: ‘Completely surprised and completely thrilled and it’s so nice to see that cast being recognised tonight.

‘And of course it was made on a channel that the Government’s going to sell off, while they’re also planning to get rid of the BBC licence fee – so, if you like shows like this, go and vote differently, that’s what I say.’ 

‘And of course it [It’s A Sin] was made on a channel [Channel 4] that the Government’s going to sell off, while they’re also planning to get rid of the BBC licence fee – so, if you like shows like this, go and vote differently, that’s what I say,’ Russell T Davies (right), 59, told BBC News

Mr Davies (right) appeared on the Bafta red carpet alongside Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa (left), who had that day, May 8, been unveiled as the to be the next actor to play the Doctor on Doctor Who. Mr Davies, who was responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005, will be back to celebrate the long-running sci-fi show’s 60th anniversary in 2023 and will be returning as lead writer on future series

The report prompted a viewer to complain that Mr Davies’ comments had not been ‘put into proper context’ and were in breach of impartiality rules.

The BBC upheld the complaint in a report which was published on August 4 – the BBC said the remarks had been broadcast ‘in error’.

‘The reporter and producer were on location at the awards ceremony rather than at New Broadcasting House where the material was edited together.

‘The reporter’s commentary was designed to introduce a remark about Doctor Who, but a different clip was selected by mistake.

‘The strong political view it included was not balanced by any reflection of Government policy during the news channel’s coverage of the Baftas that evening, and was therefore in breach of the BBC’s requirement to show impartiality on politically controversial matters,’ it said.

Mr Davies was pictured at the Baftas after his drama about the AIDs pandemic It’s A Sin (pictured) was nominated for seven awards

A review concluded that the finding was reported to the board of BBC News and discussed with the programme team concerned.

Mr Davies, who was responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005, will be back to celebrate the long-running sci-fi show’s 60th anniversary in 2023 and will be returning as lead writer on future series.

He appeared on the Bafta red carpet alongside Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa, who had that day been unveiled as the to be the next actor to play the Doctor.

Last month, Mr Davies was among a cohort of 60 writers to be appointed a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL), alongside Michaela Coel and Nick Cave.

How the BBC has been criticised over impartiality in recent years 

Emily Maitlis, who has now left BBC Newsnight, has received criticism over impartiality

The BBC has got itself into hot water over recent years after complaints over a lo.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was found in September 2019 to have breached BBC guidelines by criticising Donald Trump for perceived ‘racism’.

In May 2020, then-Newsnight host Emily Maitlis was reprimanded by the BBC after accusing Boris Johnson of ‘blind loyalty’ to Dominic Cummings over his lockdown Barnard Castle trip. The BBC said her monologue did not meet ‘standards of due impartiality’.

In February this year she apologised for breaking bias rules after retweeting ex-Tory minister Rory Stewart slamming the ‘sheer tawdry Trumpian shabbiness’ of the Government response to Partygate.

Ms Maitlis has now left the BBC to start a show on LBC Radio with fellow BBC journalist Jon Sopel after reportedly becoming ‘frustrated’ at being repeatedly ‘ticked-off’ by bosses over impartiality issues.

The BBC were forced to apologise in June this year after wrongly reporting that sculptor Sir Antony Gormley was giving up his British nationality because of Brexit.

In May ministers launched a probe into ‘Islingtonian Left-wing bias’.

In July the corporation published  a whistleblowing policy for concerns over impartiality and balance.

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