The BBC has today published the Board-commissioned independent thematic review of portrayal and representation in BBC content, undertaken by former BAFTA Chair, Anne Morrison, and independent media consultant, Chris Banatvala.
The review assesses how accurately and authentically the BBC portrays and represents different groups and communities across the UK, one of the Public Purposes in the Corporation’s Royal Charter.
The BBC welcomes the authors’ recognition that significant progress has been made in how it represents all the communities of the UK, including through increased regional investment, a broader and more representative range of voices on and off-air, and a stronger focus on authentic portrayal in commissioning decisions.
The review also identifies the areas where there is more the BBC can and should be doing, such as further improving the way representation is measured in BBC output, including through geography and social background. There is also a recommendation to strengthen the BBC’s local decision-making across the UK to ensure it is happening closer to audiences, meaning production is “rooted in the location, made by people who understand it in depth.”
The BBC has agreed a set of progressive actions in response to the review to build on the improvements made in recent years to better reflect and represent all audiences.
For example, in December, the BBC announced it will be doubling spend on content in the nations by channeling more money from central budgets across the UK. In addition, moves to increase the number of commissioners and decision-making roles out of London will be accelerated.
Anne Morrison and Chris Banatvala said:
“The BBC plays a central role in the UK’s cultural life, shaping our shared experience and reflecting the country to its audiences.
“It has made significant progress in portraying and representing the UK across its content.
“This review highlights areas for particular focus and we welcome the BBC’s recent announcements which align with these priorities.”
BBC Chair, Samir Shah said:
“The Board and I want to thank Chris Banatvala and Anne Morrison for this important piece of work.
“It is vital the BBC authentically reflects the lives of all the communities, classes, and cultures across the UK.
“Decision-making must happen closer to audiences if we want to ensure that everyone feels represented and that the BBC remains an engine for growth within the creative industries.
“The Board welcomes the challenge set out in the report and the actions the BBC Executive want to take in response.”
The BBC Executive has committed to the following actions:
- Strengthening how the BBC measures the ways in which different audiences are portrayed and represented in BBC output, reflecting a broader range of identity and experience that includes socio-economic background and geography. We will report on this new measurement framework from the next financial year.
- Doubling spend on high-impact content in the nations, as well as accelerating plans to grow the number of commissioners and decision making out of London, as set out in December 2025.
- Systematically reviewing upcoming content plans to ensure underrepresented audience groups are reflected authentically.
- Using existing and new data to ensure social background, age and geographical representation also help inform how TV and Audio presenter roles are developed, including within improved presenter succession plans over the next year.
- Regularly distributing census information and other comprehensive data on the make-up of the regularly changing UK population, making sure this is understood by BBC staff and the independent producers and partner the Corporation works with.
- Supporting production and skills across the UK to drive authentic storytelling on air, building on previously announced measures to strengthen local spend in BBC commissions.
- Sharing the thematic review across the BBC, reporting progress on the actions regularly to the Executive Committee.
BBC Chief Content Officer, Kate Phillips, said:
“The BBC’s commitment to homegrown storytelling, regional investment and support for the creative industries across the UK is unwavering.
“As this detailed and thoughtful review notes, much has been achieved since we pledged to move more BBC production and commissioning across the UK, but what is also clear is there is still more to do – both here and across the industry.
“We accept that challenge and we are committed to going further to meaningfully reflect the lives of the audiences we serve.”
BBC Press Office
Notes to Editors
The review focused on Network-wide public service television, radio and online content as well as output across the UK.
The reviewers spoke to over 100 people inside and outside the BBC. These included programme makers, commissioners, executives, commentators and media experts. It commissioned bespoke audience research, analysed a wide range of BBC content as well as considering audience feedback and complaints.
Chair Biographies
A Trustee of BAFTA for seven years and the second woman to be its Chair, Anne Morrison led a range of factual television departments at BBC Television, including Documentaries, Leisure, Factual Entertainment and Live Events. Originally from Belfast, she went on to plan and oversee the significant growth of BBC network television from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2009, Anne was appointed Director of the BBC Academy, leading for five years the largest broadcast training and development organisation in the UK. She was Chief Executive and Creative Director at the independent production company, Nevision, where she won BAFTA, RTS and Grierson Awards and is currently Chair of the Sheffield Documentary Festival.
Chris Banatvala is an independent media consultant, based in Scotland, specialising in content regulation across online, on-demand and broadcast, including its future development. He advises a range of commercial broadcasters, tech companies, governments and regulators. An independent member of the Sky News Board since 2018, he is also Channel 4’s online complaints reviewer. In 2021, Chris was an independent member of the Serota Review that made recommendations to the BBC on editorial oversight, governance and culture. He was previously an independent adviser to the BBC Trust. Chris began his career as a broadcast political journalist for Channel 4 News and subsequently became the founding Director of Standards at Ofcom as well as a member of its Content Board.
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