Thank you for contacting us with your feedback about BBC Radio.
The passing of HRH The Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was a significant event which generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally.
We acknowledge your complaint about the level of coverage, particularly in relation to the BBC News Special programme which was broadcast across all networks.
We do not make such changes to billed schedules without careful consideration. The decisions made reflect the role the BBC plays as the national broadcaster, during moments of national significance.
We are grateful for your feedback, and we always listen to the response from our audiences. Your comments have been shared with senior management.
Kind regards,
BBC Complaints Team
Category: UK
Media coverage of the death of Duke of Edinburgh
Yesterday at the age of 99, Prince Philip, ‘Phil the Greek’ died. It was not unexpected as he was clearly old, and had recently spent a significant time in hospital.
As expected there has been ‘wall-to-wall’ coverage. It has been excessive and totally in keeping with the traditional obsession with service to royalty. It has driven me made but as the same time, it seems, many others too:
BBC flooded with complaints over Prince Philip death coverage
Corporation opened dedicated complaints form on its website to deal with high volume of comments
Within six hours of Prince Philip’s death being announced the BBC had received so many complaints about its wall-to-wall coverage of the news that it opened a dedicated complaints form on its website, as television viewers turned off and went elsewhere.
The BBC curtailed dozens of broadcasts on Friday, taking the nation’s most popular television and radio channels off air and reducing dozens of other broadcasts on stations across the country, to provide uninterrupted coverage of tributes to the Queen’s husband.
BBC One played a series of pre-recorded shows, including Philip’s children paying tribute to him, while BBC Two scrapped its schedule and simulcast the same shows as its sister channel. Friday night staples such as EastEnders, Gardeners’ World, and the final episode of MasterChef were taken off air to make way for more tributes, an approach also taken by ITV.
So, to keep up the momentum I decided to make my complaint too. What particularly annoyed was the universal broadcast of I think Gyles Brandreth as a royalty history expert or maybe a documentary he made.
All of this has echos of the death of Diana when again we all had to fall into line with national mourning and a group expectation of sadness. Again tv schedules were changed and radio was replaced with nothing or dirge music.
Here is my short complaint:
I am complaining regarding the response of the BBC to the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
With particular respect to the radio I found it inappropriate that each national radio station that i tried was broadcasting the same programme. As such there was no choice in whether I wanted to participate in the remembrance. I found it unacceptable and I would expect younger people who tuned into Radio 1 would have bemused.
The BBC is not meant to be an organ of the state and blanket coverage of the same programme and then funeral music after , an for how long, is not acceptable.
In conjunction, the over- indulgent coverage of the death on BBC television excessive for me and I am sure a significant proportion of the population who do not feel a sense of obdedience to the idea of royalty.
Wrapping the flag- a lot going on
Dose 2
On Saturday I had the second dose of the vaccine. A good thing.
Did my body know about it!
After about 12 hours I experienced the body aches and then in bed had shivers, fevers and total body pain. The next day I slept for hours.
This was just like having the real thing again- a flashback to 12 months ago.
With a reaction like that after 2 doses of vaccine and the real infection one would hope this shows my immune system is truly primed and ready to fight if needed.
Thoughtful
I went to the funeral of John Percival- better known to me as Anthony’s dad- today.
The service was very good with music from a violinist and singer.
It made me think of my favourite hymns and this one came back to me from the days at St. Ben’s in Khandallah.
Covid vaccination
Dose 1 done in Southall. Starting to ache already……
Yesterday’s walk
Holiday Walk
One of my new books for Christmas. A book of walks derived from closed railway lines. Interestingly we saw an episode of the series on TV5 which featured a walk in Devon.
Our number 1 walk is in north London:
My first time in Finsbury Park and to Alexander Palace. Very nice area of the city.
Brexit Deal
An agreement was made yesterday. I have not yet read any detail. However, no matter the deal, each side was always likely to claim events had turned out how they expected. So an expected response claiming a victory:
