https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...backlash-fears
BBC will not broadcast Attenborough episode over fear of rightwing backlash
The BBC has decided not to broadcast an episode of David Attenborough’s flagship new series on British wildlife because of fears its themes of the destruction of nature would risk a backlash from Tory politicians and the rightwing press, the Guardian has been told.
The decision has angered the programme-makers and some insiders at the BBC, who fear the corporation has bowed to pressure from lobbying groups with “dinosaurian ways”.
The revelation about Attenborough’s programme comes at the end of a week in which another broadcaster, Gary Lineker, has been condemned by Conservative ministers for his criticism of the government’s immigration bill.
The fresh row focuses on Wild Isles, a highly anticipated new series looking at the beauty of nature in the British Isles, which will begin broadcast on Sunday.
Narrated by David Attenborough, it is expected to be a hit, with five episodes scheduled to go out in primetime slots on BBC One.
A sixth episode has also been filmed, which is understood to be a stark look at the losses of nature in the UK and what has caused the declines. It is also understood to include some examples of rewilding, a concept which has been controversial in some rightwing circles.
The documentary, which was part-funded by nature charities the WWF and RSPB, will not be broadcast along with the others and will instead only be available on the BBC’s iPlayer service. All six episodes were narrated by Attenborough, and made by production company Silverback Films, responsible for previous series including Our Planet, in collaboration with the BBC Natural History Unit.
Senior sources at the BBC told the Guardian that the decision was made to fend off potential critique from the political right. This week the Telegraph newspaper attacked the BBC for creating the series and for taking funding from “two charities previously criticised for their political lobbying” – the WWF and RSPB.
One source at the broadcaster, who asked not want to be named, said “lobbying groups that are desperately hanging on to their dinosaurian ways” such as the farming and game industry would “kick off” if the show had too political a message.
They added: “Frankly, this idea that you sort of put it in a separate programme to almost parcel it to one side is disingenuous. Why don’t they integrate those stories into all of them at the time?”
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BBC will not broadcast Attenborough episode over fear of rightwing backlash
The BBC has decided not to broadcast an episode of David Attenborough’s flagship new series on British wildlife because of fears its themes of the destruction of nature would risk a backlash from Tory politicians and the rightwing press, the Guardian has been told.
The decision has angered the programme-makers and some insiders at the BBC, who fear the corporation has bowed to pressure from lobbying groups with “dinosaurian ways”.
The revelation about Attenborough’s programme comes at the end of a week in which another broadcaster, Gary Lineker, has been condemned by Conservative ministers for his criticism of the government’s immigration bill.
The fresh row focuses on Wild Isles, a highly anticipated new series looking at the beauty of nature in the British Isles, which will begin broadcast on Sunday.
Narrated by David Attenborough, it is expected to be a hit, with five episodes scheduled to go out in primetime slots on BBC One.
A sixth episode has also been filmed, which is understood to be a stark look at the losses of nature in the UK and what has caused the declines. It is also understood to include some examples of rewilding, a concept which has been controversial in some rightwing circles.
The documentary, which was part-funded by nature charities the WWF and RSPB, will not be broadcast along with the others and will instead only be available on the BBC’s iPlayer service. All six episodes were narrated by Attenborough, and made by production company Silverback Films, responsible for previous series including Our Planet, in collaboration with the BBC Natural History Unit.
Senior sources at the BBC told the Guardian that the decision was made to fend off potential critique from the political right. This week the Telegraph newspaper attacked the BBC for creating the series and for taking funding from “two charities previously criticised for their political lobbying” – the WWF and RSPB.
One source at the broadcaster, who asked not want to be named, said “lobbying groups that are desperately hanging on to their dinosaurian ways” such as the farming and game industry would “kick off” if the show had too political a message.
They added: “Frankly, this idea that you sort of put it in a separate programme to almost parcel it to one side is disingenuous. Why don’t they integrate those stories into all of them at the time?”
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