
This week on the BBC: rows over Gaza, alleged bullying and Kneecap
More than 200 BBC staff have signed a letter saying the corporation's refusal to air Gaza: Medics Under Fire shows 'the BBC is not reporting 'without fear or favour' when it comes to Israel'. One insider whispered: 'The BBC's news coverage of Gaza has been terrible. And then to drop this film for no good reason beyond upsetting the Israelis shows utter cowardice by management.' In a statement, the BBC said it was 'determined to report all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East impartially and fairly'. Broadcasters are now battling to air the documentary after the BBC handed back rights to the independent production company Basement Films.
Breakfast TV host Naga Munchetty may have earned a reputation for fortitude by standing up for junior female staff in the face of a 'tyrannical' show editor, but she was outgunned in the latest vicious BBC briefing war. While pressure mounted over Richard Frediani's alleged 'aggressive management style', the Sun claimed Munchetty made a 'crude quip about a sex act' off-air at Radio 5 Live in 2022 and had allegedly been reprimanded for bullying a junior staffer. Rumours are that Munchetty has designs on the LBC weekend breakfast show but these have been hampered by concerns over her 'reputation for being tough'.
Like a JCB churning through a field of daisies, JD Vance has joined BlueSky, the social network for lefties exhausted by the fury of X. After being temporarily expelled due to verification issues (no one could believe it was actually him), he posted a rage-baity thread about trans youth to prove it absolutely was. Within hours he had been blocked by more than 110,000 accounts. The daisies fight back.
How grateful Martine Croxall must be that BBC bosses are 'intensely relaxed' and backing her after she changed an autocue that mentioned 'pregnant people' to say simply 'women'. Presumably they're the same bosses who just four months ago reached a settlement with her over claims she was among those being discriminated against for their age and sex.
It was perhaps not the publicity the BBC might have wished for when Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, newly bailed after a court appearance on terror charges for flying a flag supporting Hezbollah, told fans: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. If you can't be there, we'll be on the BBC.' Insiders say Kneecap's set will be aired after the event, rather than live, and only if there are no guideline breaches.
Greatest Hits Radio is to rebroadcast the full ten hours of Live Aid, 40 years on, despite criticism of the event's harmful impact on perceptions of Africa. One 1985 participant unlikely to be tuning in is the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, 81, who later questioned the organisers' motives: 'I know the music business, and it isn't that pure.'
A profile of Mark Zuckerberg in the Financial Times reveals Trump discussed the Meta boss taking a role in the White House. Meta staff apparently refer to their boss as 'Maga Mark', although the firm's chief technology officer insists the world is seeing 'authentic' Zuckerberg. How fortunate this chimes with Trump's agenda, just as Meta begs for backing in potentially catastrophic regulatory and legal battles.
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This article appears in the 25 Jun 2025 issue of the New Statesman, State of Emergency
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South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about complaints made against Jermaine Jenas
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. – The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
MasterChef begins casting for next series as BBC ploughs on after sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode
MasterChef has begun casting for its next series as the BBC ploughed on after the sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The cooking show has been at the centre of scandal after Gregg was dismissed as a presenter after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation. Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. But despite the chaos surrounding the show, MasterChef is forging ahead with a new series. Asking cooking hopefuls to apply, production company Banjay wrote: 'For over 20 years we have been putting Britain's best food talents through their paces. 'Cooking doesn't get tougher than this.' The website added: 'Whether you're an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below.' According to The Sun, Banjay said the decision to cast for a new series came 'after consultation with the contestants'. It comes after Gregg Wallace insisted that he is done with TV and the BBC before making a sensational claim that he was 'groped' during his time on MasterChef as he speaks out following his sacking from the show. The TV personality, 60, said in an interview, how he himself faced sexual harassment from a host of women 'on a regular basis' as he hit out at the broadcaster over their 'complaints procedure'. Speaking to The Sun, Gregg said: 'The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed - there are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant but I had so many bad experiences on that show too. 'Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I'd have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis? 'How many times I've been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I've been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?' Gregg added that the thought of complaining wouldn't even 'cross my mind', noting that he wasn't suggesting that groping was 'right', but it was 'happening to me on a regular basis.' The disgraced TV star went on to that he was often 'shouted at and bullied', claiming contestants had a perceived notion that presenters were 'god-like' and adding that he doesn't wish for anyone to be 'dragged through' what he has. MailOnline have contacted BBC representatives for comment. Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC, told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been 'hurt' by recent events. He noted he didn't want 'anything to do with' telly or the broadcaster, before acknowledging that his TV career is now over. When asked if he will watch the upcoming series of MasterChef, he replied with a defiant 'No, no, no, no', stating that he's 'pleased' for the contestants on the show as it was never really about former co-star John Torode and himself. He added that he 'didn't care' who hosted the show next, insisting that MasterChef would be 'absolutely fine' without himself and John at the helm. Gregg's comments come after it was revealed that the BBC would air its amateur 2025 series of MasterChef. In the nine months since the hit BBC programme finished filming last Autumn there have been questions over whether it would ever be broadcast following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against presenters Gregg and John. Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC , told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been 'hurt' by recent events Now the corporation has revealed that the amateur series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against Gregg and John were upheld, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6. The MailOnline understand that the BBC have told the MasterChef production company Banijay that the show should reduce Gregg and John's screen time to a minimum in light of the report's findings. A source said: 'The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition.' 'Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series.' 'All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected.' 'Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants and that will be our priority.'

Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about complaints made against Jermaine Jenas
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Alex Jones attending the 2025 Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' Jermaine Jenas insists he has taken responsibility for the conduct which led to his dismissal (Nigel French/PA) After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Alex Jones and Jason Manford stand outside Western House, London, after appearing on Chris Evans's Radio 2 breakfast show (Fiona Hanson/PA) Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. – The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.