Errors in the BBC’s production of a documentary about Gaza are a severe blow to the organization’s professed dedication to reliability and impartiality, according to the BBC’s Chair, Samir Shah. Shah indicated that individuals within the corporation have not adequately managed the documentary in question.
The documentary, titled “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone,” was removed from iPlayer after it was revealed that the 13-year-old narrator, Abdullah al-Yazouri, was the son of the deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamas government.
In front of MPs, alongside the BBC’s Director-General, Tim Davie, Shah expressed his dismay at the failures in the documentary’s production, which were attributed to both the independent production company and individuals within the BBC.
Shah emphasized that the BBC’s claims of impartiality and trustworthiness have been deeply undermined, stressing the need for thorough scrutiny.
Davie confirmed a serious failure in the documentary’s production but noted that overall trust in the BBC remains high. He also revealed that the BBC was not informed by Hoyo Films, the independent production company, about the boy’s potential connections to Hamas.
The BBC’s initial investigation has revealed that the boy’s mother was paid through his sister’s bank account, and this is being examined further.
There is significant internal discontent at the BBC regarding this failure, with potential repercussions for key figures like Joanna Carr, who was responsible for the program, and Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News.
Davie faced questions regarding a letter signed by prominent individuals, including Gary Lineker and others, advocating for the documentary’s reinstatement. However, Davie stood by his decision to remove the documentary due to concerns over its production integrity.
The BBC’s inquiry into the documentary is ongoing, with a focus on possible breaches of editorial guidelines and potential disciplinary actions.
Hoyo Films has pledged complete cooperation with the BBC’s investigation, emphasizing the importance of sharing the voices of individuals affected by the conflict.
Additionally, Shah brought attention to Huw Edwards, a BBC newsreader who was suspended and received a prison sentence for accessing child exploitation material. Shah criticized Edwards for not returning the salary he had earned during this period.
Shah and Davie floated potential changes to the BBC, including support for decriminalizing non-payment of the license fee in exchange for government funding for services like the BBC World Service and free TV licenses for some over-75s. They also suggested making the license fee more progressive to reflect income levels.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/04/gaza-how-to-survive-a-warzone-documentary-bbc-credibility-samir-shah
