BBC ‘needs to get a grip quicker’ after controversies such as Bob Vylan set

By Ellie Ng, PA

The BBC needs to “get a grip quicker” and complete reports and investigations sooner following controversies such as the divisive set by punk rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, the head of the UK broadcasting regulator has said.

The broadcaster apologised earlier this month for the group’s “deplorable behaviour” after frontman, Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, led crowds in chants of “death, death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces) during their set at the festival which was shown live on TV and the iPlayer.

The BBC also said it will no longer broadcast live performances deemed “high risk” – as Bob Vylan had been assessed – and its director of music, Lorna Clarke, also reportedly stepped back from her day-to-day duties.

 

Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes said on Sunday there could be a risk that the public will lose confidence in the BBC after the regulator previously said the broadcaster has questions to answer over its Glastonbury coverage.

Dame Melanie told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I think it’s very frustrating that the BBC has had some own goals in this area, with the Gaza documentary and then with the Glastonbury coverage, and it does start to erode public trust and confidence.

“I think I would say that, above all what frustrates me and others, is that when these things go wrong it can take a long time for the BBC to see that something’s happened when everybody else was there within a matter of hours.

“So I would say to the BBC I think they need to get a grip quicker, get these reports and investigations concluded sooner, otherwise there is a real risk of a sort of loss of confidence in the BBC, which is a shame.”

The BBC has been approached for comment.

Dame Melanie spoke ahead of a BBC review into the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone after it emerged its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

The corporation issued an apology after the Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury, saying: “We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community.

“We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC.

It said it was “clear that errors were made” as it set out the timeline of the decisions made over its broadcast, adding: “Bob Vylan were deemed high risk following a risk assessment process applied to all acts appearing at Glastonbury.

“Seven acts including Bob Vylan were included in this category and they were all deemed suitable for livestreaming with appropriate mitigations.

“Prior to Glastonbury, a decision was taken that compliance risks could be mitigated in real time on the livestream – through the use of language or content warnings – without the need for a delay. This was clearly not the case.”

It added: “Given the failings that have been acknowledged, we are taking actions to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for those failings in the live broadcast. We will not comment further on those processes at this time.

“Any music performances deemed high risk will now not be broadcast live or streamed live.”

The BBC has also promised to take action to “ensure proper accountability” and issued an apology to viewers, especially the Jewish community.

Avon and Somerset Police have also launched an investigation into comments made during the group’s West Holts Stage performance.

The group was already under a police investigation for comments made at a concert a month before Glastonbury.

Video footage appears to show Bobby Vylan at Alexandra Palace telling crowds: “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.”

The group issued a statement claiming they were being “targeted for speaking up” after Avon and Somerset Police began its investigation.

Formed in 2017, Bob Vylan are known for addressing political issues in their albums, including racism, masculinity and class.