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BBC Expert Compares Government Plan To Cap Supermarket Prices To Venezuela

Posted on 20/05/2026 by Boris Clair

A government plan to ask supermarkets to voluntarily cap the prices of certain products to tackle the cost of living crisis has echoes of Venezuela, according to the BBC’s business editor.

Simon Jack said it could even lead to food shortages amid a mounting backlash to the idea.

The Financial Times reported that the Treasury had spoken to supermarkets about offering “incentives” to encourage them to cap the price of essentials like eggs, bread and milk.

That could include easing packaging policies and delaying potentially costly changes to healthy food rules.

On Radio 4′s Today programme, Jack said: “The British Retail Consortium said the history of price controls is not a good one. A lot of people will be forced to potentially sell things at a loss, and when that happens people stop making them.

“If you look back through history, whether it’s the US in the 70s or Venezuela more recently, you can end up with food shortages when you try and impose price controls.”

Economist Paul Johnson said he was “lost for words”.

He posted on X: “Never thought I’d see a British government trying to set food prices. If there is one highly competitive sector it is food retailing.

“Do we really want to live in a country where the state sets these prices?”

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Lost for words. Never thought I’d see a British govt trying to set food prices. If there is one highly competitive sector it is food retailing.
Do we really want to live in a country where the state sets these prices?https://t.co/yLqYOdfXNN

— Paul Johnson (@PJTheEconomist) May 19, 2026

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Lost for words. Never thought I’d see a British govt trying to set food prices. If there is one highly competitive sector it is food retailing.
Do we really want to live in a country where the state sets these prices?https://t.co/yLqYOdfXNN

— Paul Johnson (@PJTheEconomist) May 19, 2026

But Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said price controls “isn’t something we’re looking at”.

He told Sky News: “The government is not looking at doing this.

“Instead, what we’re doing is looking across the economy at what are the different ways that we can help households.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Russell T Davies Claims BBC ‘Insists’ His Shows Have Happy Endings

Posted on 19/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Bafta-winning screenwriter Russell T Davies has said he’s happy to be collaborating with Channel 4 on his latest show Tip Toe, as the broadcaster affords him the opportunity to be more “radical” than its rivals.

Over the years, Russell has jumped around UK broadcasters, from the BBC (as with Doctor Who, A Very English Scandal and Years And Years) to ITV (with whom he collaborated on Nolly).

However, arguably the work he’s best known for – including Queer As Folk, Cucumber and, more recently, It’s A Sin – has been at Channel 4, which is set to broadcast his new drama Tip Toe later this month.

The timely Tip Toe stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey as two neighbours who have co-existed for decades, but abruptly find themselves at war with one another due to their opposing views in the current political and social climate.

“It’s tough. It’s a hard piece of work,” Russell told Radio 4’s Today earlier this week. “And that’s why I’m really glad to be writing for Channel 4.

“When I write at the BBC, they insist that we give things happy endings in case it drives people away! It’s true!”

Russell continued: “That’s what Channel 4 is for, to sit back and be a bit more radical and more opinionated.”

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[embedded content]

Earlier this year, Russell told an audience at the Series Mania event: “I love Years & Years but it was only made on the assistance of the BBC, which kind of meant it had to have a happy ending.

“The world has proved me right [on the need for a sad ending] since, things are just getting worse. I loved that ending but it was a condition that you can’t be that bleak. That condition does not apply to [Tip Toe].”

Tip Toe will premiere on Channel 4 on Sunday 31 May.

UK Eurovision Act Claims BBC Gave Him ‘Stress Test’ To Prepare Him For Contest

Posted on 15/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Eurovision star Look Mum No Computer has shared that the BBC took measures to make sure he’d be able to cope with the “pressure” of the contest.

Look Mum No Computer – the stage name of musician and YouTuber Sam Battle – is representing the UK at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest this weekend with his original song Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Given how the UK has fared at the competition in recent years, it’s fair to say that picking up that mantle is not for the faint of heart, and in a new interview with BBC News, the performer opened up about how bosses wanted to make sure he was up to the challenge.

“They gave me a stress test [to see] whether I could deal under pressure,” he explained, with the BBC describing him as flashing a nervous “should-I-be-saying-this” glance towards his press team as he made the revelation.

“It’s nothing, really,” he added. “Just making sure that you don’t get too nervous and things like that.”

HuffPost UK has contacted the BBC for additional comment.

Look Mum No Computer pictured on stage during Eurovision rehearsals

Past UK Eurovision acts have made no secret of the intense toll that the scrutiny and attention associated with the contest can bring.

Back in 2025, Olly Alexander claimed that his number one advice to the UK’s next Eurovision entrant would be to “get yourself a really good therapist because you’ll have a lot to talk about – for years!”.

Meanwhile, Look Mum No Computer isn’t the only Eurovision performer whose delegation took measures to prepare them for the contest.

Earlier this week, Israeli representative Noam Bettan claimed that, like his recent predecessors, he rehearsed while being booed to prepare for any disruptions that might occur during his performance.

“I had a few people in my crew trying to make it hard for me, to practise for this moment,” Noam told the BBC earlier this week. “But you can’t really prepare for this.”

During Noam’s semi-final performance on Tuesday night, pro-Palestine chants could be heard coming from the audience, with Eurovision later confirming that audience members had been removed for causing disruption.

Gladiators’ Giant Alleges He Was ‘Sacked’ Over Relationship With OnlyFans Model

Posted on 27/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Former Gladiators star Jamie Bigg – better known to viewers as Giant – has alleged that he was sacked from the show because of his relationship.

Last week, Giant made headlines when he announced he was stepping away from Gladiators after three seasons on the cast of the rebooted game show.

“What I do want to make clear is this wasn’t a decision I made to step away,” he said at the time.

“I was faced with a choice that didn’t align with my values. And if you know me, you know this… I stand by my people and I stand by what I believe in. That’s what being a role model means to me.”

He has since alleged that he was dropped by Gladiators because he wanted to go public with his relationship with his girlfriend Taylor Ryan, who is an OnlyFans model.

“I had to choose between dating Taylor and keeping my job,” he told The Sun over the weekend, noting that he was “shocked and very saddened about their choice to sack me”.

The firefighter and former professional bodybuilder alleged that he was told by Gladiators producers that by going public with his romance, he could be “providing an access to adult content for children”, something he branded “absurd”.

“One of the most disappointing things is that all I’ve tried to do is be a good person and a good role model, and the BBC haven’t been either of those things,” he lamented.

“Essentially, I don’t want to work for people like that either.”

In a statement to the Daily Mail last week, Giant said: “I made it clear that I was planning to go public with my relationship, including the fact my partner works as an OnlyFans creator, and shortly after that I was told I wouldn’t be continuing on Gladiators.

“It wasn’t something I expected, especially given the commitment I’ve shown to the role. I’ve always taken being in the public eye seriously, and I believe being a role model is about honesty as well as professionalism. For me, that means not hiding parts of who I am or the people I care about.

“My partner is an incredible person, and I have huge respect for everything she does – I’m proud to stand by her.”

Giant then added: “I’m grateful to the BBC and everyone involved in the show for the opportunity and the experiences I’ve had. Now, my focus is on the future.”

A BBC spokesperson previously said: “After three formidable series, Giant is leaving Gladiators. We’d like to thank him for everything he has contributed to the show and wish him well for the future.”

HuffPost UK has contacted the BBC for additional comment.

Baftas N-Word Broadcast Was A Breach Of BBC’s Editorial Standards, Investigation Finds

Posted on 08/04/2026 by Boris Clair

The BBC has determined that the broadcast of a racial slur during its coverage of this year’s Baftas went against its editorial standards.

During this year’s Baftas ceremony, Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson – attending the ceremony with the cast and crew of the movie I Swear – experienced a series of involuntary tics, resulting in him shouting a variety of slurs from the audience.

One of these, which saw him shouting the N-word while Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting on stage – was included in the BBC’s broadcast of the Baftas, which aired on a two-hour time delay.

Following the event, the BBC faced a wave of scrutiny – and a “large number of complaints” – due to the slur’s inclusion, with outgoing director-general Tim Davie “fast-tracking” an investigation into how it came to be broadcast.

On Wednesday, chief content officer Kate Phillips confirmed that the BBC’s executive complaints unit (ECU) had “found this should not have made it to air and it was a clear breach of our editorial standards”.

A post on the ECU’s website explained: “The inclusion of the n-word in the broadcast (which was also streamed live on iPlayer) was highly offensive, had no editorial justification and represented a breach of the BBC’s editorial standards, but that the breach was unintentional.

“The members of the production team who were monitoring the event in the outside broadcast vehicle all say they did not hear or recognise the n-word when it occurred at about 14 minutes and 45 seconds into the broadcast (while Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were introducing the first award). The ECU accepted their account, for two reasons.

“Firstly, the use of the n-word in that instance was extremely indistinct, to the point where it might well not have been recognised by the production team. Secondly, there was another occurrence of the n-word about 10 minutes later, which was recognised by the production team and immediately edited out in accordance with the protocols on offensive language which were in place.”

John Davidson – whose life story inspired the Bafta-winning film I Swear – pictured ahead of the 2026 ceremony

The post continued: “There is no reason to conclude they would have applied the protocols in one case while deliberately ignoring them in the other. The ECU noted, however, that the BBC received one complaint from a viewer about the use of the n-word in the segment of the programme concerned while the programme was still on air and another very shortly after it ended.

“While this tends to support the view that the word was almost unintelligible (because we would expect a use of the word which had been clear to viewers in general to have caused a large number of complaints during the broadcast and immediately afterwards), it also means that we cannot say it was entirely so.”

As for the inclusion of the slur on the Baftas broadcast later uploaded to the BBC iPlayer catch-up service, the ECU said this was also “a breach of the BBC’s editorial standards”.

“The production team became aware shortly after the transmission of the first award that the interjection while Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage consisted of the n-word,” they said, saying that the delay in taking it down was a “serious mistake”, pointing out that by this point it had become “widely discussed” on both online and in news media.

In their findings, the ECU said: “The fact that the unedited recording remained available for so long aggravated the offence caused by the inadvertent inclusion of the n-word in the broadcast.”

A day after the Baftas, Kate Phillips sent an internal memo to BBC employees which read: “The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast. This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast. We take full responsibility for what happened.”

After Delroy Lindo expressed his disappointment at the way Bafta had handled the incident, a spokesperson for the organisation later issued a lengthy apology which also took “full responsibility” for what transpired.

The Other Bennet Sister: Why Austen Readers Should Watch The BBC Hit

Posted on 04/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Additional comment from Dr Shelley Galpin, a lecturer in Media, Culture, and Creative Industries at King’s College London.

Adapting a book for a TV show or movie means some readers are sure to be disappointed (take, for instance, Emerald Fennell’s controversial Wuthering Heights).

The BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister is no exception. Focused on Mary, the largely forgotten sibling in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the series takes significant enough liberties with the author’s original work for some readers to dub it “fanfic”.

Personally, I’ve never seen that as much of an insult (what are Clueless or Bridget Jones if not very well-done Austen fan fictions?).

If anything, though it has its flaws, I think The Other Bennet Sister is a fun, highly watchable series that fits as neatly into the book’s premise as a mid-2020s TV show can.

It’s not the best screenwriting, I grant you. But the 1940 Pride and Prejudice film adaptation, which included the lines “At this moment, it’s difficult to believe that you’re so proud.” “At this moment, it’s difficult to believe that you are so prejudiced”, made a (clunky) point.

The book is all about how we see and unfairly judge one another, including as a reader. And speaking to HuffPost UK, media, culture, and creative industries lecturer Dr Shelley Galpin said, “The [BBC] series works well as a development of those ideas”.

Of course, Lizzie misunderstands Mr Darcy and Wickham in turns, and Mr Darcy is unkindly snobbish about the Bennets.

But we know that because Austen explicitly paints the picture for us. Her real art is in making us question the characters the book itself portrays negatively: if Mrs Bennet is so irrational and silly, how come the far better-off Mr Bennet married her – and why do some of her schemes, like sending a rain-sodden Jane off to sneeze over the nearest herd of poshies, kind of work out?

Why didn’t Lizzie, or most readers, trust Charlotte Lucas when she (rightly) said Mr Collins was perfect for many of her needs?

Not to pummel the remains of a long-dead horse further into the ground here, but the book makes us ask: were we proud, or prejudiced, when we read it?

I was pleased to see that the Richared E. Grant Mr Bennet’s head-in-the-sand approach to raising children is a lot more explicit than in, say, the 2005 film (even if Mrs Bennet, played by Ruth Jones, is more flatly harsh – both Dr Galpin and I felt the speech she gives at the end of the show was not quite enough to redeem her being “such a nightmare” the rest of the time).

Other characters were reframed, too.

“I definitely felt that some of the more irritating or comic character elements were softened a little [in The Other Bennet Sister] – Mary and Mr Collins were both a little less ‘preachy’ and lacking in social awareness than in their original iterations, so I felt that some artistic license was taken with the characterisation, but this is perhaps consistent with the show centring on Mary’s view of the world more,” said Dr Galpin.

“I… liked the slight rehabilitation of Mr Collins, who is, at the end of the day, trying to do the right thing, even if he is far from the ideal romantic hero.”

Mary, whom I always saw as quite similar to the shy, bookish, devout Fanny Price protagonist in Mansfield Park, was well overdue for a similar reinterpetation, though Dr Galpin pointed out that her TV self might be closer to the original novel than I realised.

“It struck me as I watched it that Mary is essentially playing the ‘Lizzie’ role from P&P. In Austen’s novel, Lizzie is supposed to be a little awkward and lacking in social niceties (in comparison to perfect Jane!) and less attractive than her sister.

“She also continually irritates her mother by making supposedly imprudent marriage choices. Mary essentially steps into this persona in the series. The rivalry with Caroline Bingley also echoes Lizzie’s role in the original novel,” she said.

So, when the BBC show depicts Mary as strong-willed, ambitious, self-aware, and bloomingly confident once she reaches London, it’s not a correction of Jane Austen’s book but a natural extension of it.

It makes as much sense as a spin-off TV series as Mr Collins’ (relatively) successful marriage, or Caroline Bingley’s genuinely well-meaning Wickham warning, do in the novel; not what we were led to expect initially, but hey, what sucker doesn’t question their first impression?

That’s Austen, baby – and in my opinion, the witty, touching, and fun BBC adaptation has bottled it perfectly.

Jenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75

Posted on 20/03/2026 by Boris Clair

Dame Jenni Murray, the veteran journalist best known as the longest-serving host of the BBC’s Woman’s Hour, has died at the age of 75.

In a post on the Radio 4 show’s Instagram page on Friday evening, the channel’s controller Mohit Bakaya said: “Jenni Murray was a formidable voice in British broadcasting who was warm, fearless and beloved by listeners.

“During her decades at Woman’s Hour, she helped shape the national conversation with intelligence, rigour and a remarkable ability to connect with audiences. Jenni leaves an indelible legacy on generations of listeners.

“We are profoundly grateful for her outstanding contribution to Radio 4, and she will be deeply missed.”

Dame Jenni began presenting Woman’s Hour in 1987, before officially stepping down more than 30 years later, in October 2020.

Prior to that, she had worked at other flagship BBC shows including Newsnight and Radio 4’s Today Show.

She continued to work in journalism following her Woman’s Hour departure, writing for the likes of the Daily Mail and Saga magazine.

In 2011, she was awarded a damehood by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to broadcasting.

The BBC’s outgoing director-general Tim Davie also paid his respects on Friday, saying: “This is incredibly sad news and our thoughts are with all of Dame Jenni’s family and friends. Dame Jenni was, simply put, a broadcasting icon.

“Throughout her three groundbreaking decades on Woman’s Hour, Jenni created a safe space for her audience thanks to her warmth, intelligence and courage.

“We shall all miss her terribly. Her legacy endures in the countless conversations she started, the many issues she championed and the lives she touched.”

Reform’s Zia Yusuf Sparks Strong Response After Clash With BBC Question Time Audience Member

Posted on 05/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf startled BBC Question Time audience members on Thursday with his curt response to a question.

During an immigration special, one member of the crowd took issue with the anti-immigration party’s claim that there are enough people in the UK to “not need foreign doctors”.

The man in the audience said: “I joined the NHS as a student in 1974. We’ve been totally reliant on doctors from Asia initially, and the care sector is totally dependent on care workers from abroad, despite nine million people not being in work.”

He said population growth and a shortage of funds for hospitals has gone down, telling Yusuf: “So you’re conflating lots of different things to make your argument.”

He pointed out that Reform has promised migrant workers will lose their indefinite leave to remain if they get into government.

“So if you’ve worked as a care worker in nursing home for 40 years, you are already since last year not allowed to bring your children over,” the man said.

“When you get to 65, you’ll be sent back to where you came from, is that what you’re suggesting?”

Yusuf said: “No. It’s not at all. And if you’d paid attention to what we are announcing, you would not have that view.”

A surprised “ooh” went around the hall at that response, but Yusuf continued: “My mother is a care home worker –”

Migration minister Mike Tapp then chimed in: “Typically rude. Be polite to people at the same time. They’re not decent, that’s the problem.”

Yusuf ignored the response to his tone and said Reform have announced they will have an “acute skills shortage visa specifically for sectors like the care home sector”.

The Reform representative also hit out at the show later, criticising the BBC for supposedly “planting” small boat migrants in the audience.

Yusuf told GB News: “How on earth it should be deemed appropriate that people who have broken into this country illegally should have a seat at the table in a discussion about illegal immigration… it is bewildering.”

Farage Demands Apology From BBC For ‘Double Standards’ Over Racism Claims In Furious Rant

Posted on 04/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage called for an apology from the BBC during a furious outburst at a press conference today.

BBC Radio 4′s Today co-host Emma Barnett also clashed with Reform deputy, Richard Tice, over what she called Farage’s “relationship” with Adolf Hitler on Thursday morning.

Responding to that interview, and the ongoing racism allegations, Farage told a BBC reporter: “I thought this morning’s performance by one of your lower-grade presenters [Emma Barnett] on the Today programme was utterly disgraceful.

“I think, to frame a question around the leader of Reform’s ‘relationship’ with Hitler, which is how she framed it, was despicable, disgusting beyond belief.

“Are you surprised that half a million people every year refuse to pay the licence fee?”

He continued: “The double standards and hypocrisy of the BBC are absolutely astonishing. The time I was alleged to have made these remarks, one of your most popular weekly shows was the ’Black and White Ministrel [Show].’”

This programme ran from 1958 to 1978 and was accused of using out-dated stereotypes towards the second half of its 20-year run.

He said: “I cannot put up with the double standards of the BBC about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago, and what you were putting out on mainstream content.

“So I want an apology from the BBC for virtually everything you did throughout the 1970s and 80s.”

He also claimed he had received many letters from former school peers from his time at Dulwich College, and read one out during the press conference.

The contemporary, who was not named, supposedly said Farage had just used “schoolboy banter”, which was occasionally offensive but “never with malice”.

When the BBC reporter tried to circle back to his original question about the accuracy of the claims against him, Farage just moved on to a different press question.

He told the reporter: “Until you apologise for all of your [BBC] output, your appalling output at the same that I’m accused of saying these things that I deny – I’m not speaking to you.”

Asked if he was going to sue Barnett over defamation, he said such legal claims take up a lot of “emotional and legal capital”.

Listen to Barnett’s full exchange with Tice here:

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Emma Barnett: Do you think saying to a Jewish person that Hitler was right is direct racial abuse?

Richard Tice(Reform MP): Yes… I can’t believe anybody would have say that

EB: Including your leader?

RT: Yes… This is all made up twaddle… #r4today pic.twitter.com/ikNb4u7w5z

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) December 4, 2025

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Richard Tice(Reform MP): Yes… I can’t believe anybody would have say thatEB: Including your leader?RT: Yes… This is all made up twaddle… #r4today pic.twitter.com/ikNb4u7w5z— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) December 4, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1996506508822003712/pu/img/AM579Lm1EK_jrCyQ.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1152,"title":"Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 on Twitter / 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Emma Barnett: Do you think saying to a Jewish person that Hitler was right is direct racial abuse?

Richard Tice(Reform MP): Yes… I can’t believe anybody would have say that

EB: Including your leader?

RT: Yes… This is all made up twaddle… #r4today pic.twitter.com/ikNb4u7w5z

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) December 4, 2025

Donald Trump’s Spokeswoman Brands BBC ‘100% Fake News’ Over Panorama Row

Posted on 08/11/2025 by Boris Clair

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman has branded the BBC “100% fake news” over claims the broadcaster doctored a speech made by the US president.

Panorama has been accused of misrepresenting comments Trump made outside the White House prior to the riots on January 6, 2020.

An internal memo said an edition of the BBC’s Panorama programme broadcast last October had spliced together two sections of President Trump’s speech to supporters to give a misleading impression of what he actually said.

In one section, Trump appears to say he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.

However, Trump actually said he would walk with them “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard”.

He called on his supporters to “fight like hell” later in the speech amid false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

A 19-page dossier on the incident, seen by the Daily Telegraph, was sent to the BBC board by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the corporation’s editorial guidelines and standards committee.

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, has already branded the BBC “full of shit” over the controversy.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said: “This purposefully dishonest, selectively edited clip by the BBC is further evidence that they are total, 100 per cent fake news that should no longer be worth the time on the television screens of the great people of the United Kingdom.

“Every time I travel to the United Kingdom with President Trump and am forced to watch the BBC in our hotel rooms, it ruins my day listening to their blatant propaganda and lies about the president of the United States and all that he’s doing to make America better and the world a safer place.”

A BBC spokesman told the Telegraph: “While we don’t comment on leaked documents, when the BBC receives feedback it takes it seriously and considers it carefully.

“Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee where differing views and opinions of our coverage are routinely discussed and debated.”

Leavitt has previously attacked the BBC over its coverage of the war in Gaza.

She accused the broadcaster of spreading “misinformation” over the way it covered claims that Israel had killed Palestinians near an aid distribution centre in June.

But in a video posted on X, BBC News analysis editor Ros Atkins said Leavitt’s diatribe “was repeatedly false”.

“This contains a mix of misrepresentation and untruths,” he added.

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