Matthew Kilburn
@matthewkilburn.bsky.social
Freelance writer, editor and consulting historian - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Doctor Who Magazine - and Alzheimer's carer. Ex-History of Parliament, also liable to write about North-East England and Oxford as well as television.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
It is foundational IMO that BBC has been savagely defunded (and relentlessly politically bullied and attacked) from 2010-2024. See vlv.org.uk/news/bbc-pub... 2/
38% cut in BBC Public Funding: VLV Analysis | Voice of the Listener & Viewer
VLV research shows that BBC public funding available for UK services has dropped by just under 40% in real terms since 2010. Our analysis is based on BBC An ...
vlv.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It is foundational IMO that BBC has been savagely defunded (and relentlessly politically bullied and attacked) from 2010-2024. See vlv.org.uk/news/bbc-pub... 2/
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Autumn on St Giles a few days ago: red leaves in mid-fall.
November 10, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Autumn on St Giles a few days ago: red leaves in mid-fall.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
This was a diagram illustrating a piece I wrote in @prospectmagazine.co.uk in January 2024. Some faces have since changed but you get the general gist …
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
This was a diagram illustrating a piece I wrote in @prospectmagazine.co.uk in January 2024. Some faces have since changed but you get the general gist …
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Can’t believe Disney have pulled all their money out of Tim Davie.
Here’s hoping they go back to a Director General with smaller scale stories, set mainly in Broadcasting House, and bring back some classic old baddies, like the National Viewers And Listeners Association.
Here’s hoping they go back to a Director General with smaller scale stories, set mainly in Broadcasting House, and bring back some classic old baddies, like the National Viewers And Listeners Association.
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Can’t believe Disney have pulled all their money out of Tim Davie.
Here’s hoping they go back to a Director General with smaller scale stories, set mainly in Broadcasting House, and bring back some classic old baddies, like the National Viewers And Listeners Association.
Here’s hoping they go back to a Director General with smaller scale stories, set mainly in Broadcasting House, and bring back some classic old baddies, like the National Viewers And Listeners Association.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
This in turn deepens a dynamic of 'MY side is poorly represented - why does that CRANK always get on?' when you have hot button debates largely discussed by people who are not fluent in the actual topic but are reciting talking points, often poorly.
it‘s also changed the incentives a bit. You don’t get on a programme by leading a campaign or having expertise in an area, you get on it by saying something a bit spicy on Twitter before 11am in the hope that an overworked 24 year old researcher books you.
November 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This in turn deepens a dynamic of 'MY side is poorly represented - why does that CRANK always get on?' when you have hot button debates largely discussed by people who are not fluent in the actual topic but are reciting talking points, often poorly.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
It also means a substantial amount of detailed factual programming ends up spiralling off into the world of niche podcasts and Youtube channels rather than formats that are accessible for a mass audience
I go on about 'remember when BBC Parliament was a real channel?', but from a 'protecting the corporation' perspective, the flight from detail both means 'fewer programmes that MPs and the political class themselves directly enjoy' and also 'fewer programmes that the political class appears on'.
It would also have more defenders more readily to say no thats bullshit its a great institution and you can fuck off when facing this kind of assault
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It also means a substantial amount of detailed factual programming ends up spiralling off into the world of niche podcasts and Youtube channels rather than formats that are accessible for a mass audience
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
This x100000!
Eeveryone in the news media lurches towards takes like "trust in news can revive the BBC!!!" and ignores the fact that trust is completely useless and abstract if no one is watching/listening/reading in the first place.
Eeveryone in the news media lurches towards takes like "trust in news can revive the BBC!!!" and ignores the fact that trust is completely useless and abstract if no one is watching/listening/reading in the first place.
I reckon a shared national popular culture is just as important (if not more important) than a fact based, impartial news service for liberal democracy to work.
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This x100000!
Eeveryone in the news media lurches towards takes like "trust in news can revive the BBC!!!" and ignores the fact that trust is completely useless and abstract if no one is watching/listening/reading in the first place.
Eeveryone in the news media lurches towards takes like "trust in news can revive the BBC!!!" and ignores the fact that trust is completely useless and abstract if no one is watching/listening/reading in the first place.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Michael Prescott's report makes vital points about the importance of being accurate, and also how difficult that is. For instance, he describes himself as having been Political Editor of the Sunday Times for 10 years, which is not what the Guardian reported when he left the job.
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Michael Prescott's report makes vital points about the importance of being accurate, and also how difficult that is. For instance, he describes himself as having been Political Editor of the Sunday Times for 10 years, which is not what the Guardian reported when he left the job.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
I agree with this, but I think if the BBC were better led, it would make fewer culpable errors and it would both directly and indirectly be better placed to fight the real and concerted campaign against it.
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I agree with this, but I think if the BBC were better led, it would make fewer culpable errors and it would both directly and indirectly be better placed to fight the real and concerted campaign against it.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Private Eye cartoon of mine from early 2024.
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Private Eye cartoon of mine from early 2024.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Obviously, it’s been a tough day for the BBC. Big organisations, working under big pressure, will sadly make errors
But I still feel huge pride in hosting a BBC podcast, and having previously spent 11 years making a world-renowned children’s show that no other broadcaster would have made
But I still feel huge pride in hosting a BBC podcast, and having previously spent 11 years making a world-renowned children’s show that no other broadcaster would have made
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Obviously, it’s been a tough day for the BBC. Big organisations, working under big pressure, will sadly make errors
But I still feel huge pride in hosting a BBC podcast, and having previously spent 11 years making a world-renowned children’s show that no other broadcaster would have made
But I still feel huge pride in hosting a BBC podcast, and having previously spent 11 years making a world-renowned children’s show that no other broadcaster would have made
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Great *news*.
Robust, unambiguous words on the BBC from the NUJ:
"The new director-general must be politically independent
Public service broadcasting has never been more important
The BBC board has a duty to resist political interference and politicians hostile to public service broadcasting"
Robust, unambiguous words on the BBC from the NUJ:
"The new director-general must be politically independent
Public service broadcasting has never been more important
The BBC board has a duty to resist political interference and politicians hostile to public service broadcasting"
The NUJ has issued a statement in response to the resignations of Tim Davie, BBC director-general, and Deborah Turness, BBC News chief executive
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...
NUJ reacts to BBC leadership resignations
The NUJ has issued a statement in response to the resignations of Tim Davie, BBC director-general, and Deborah Turness, BBC News chief executive.
www.nuj.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Great *news*.
Robust, unambiguous words on the BBC from the NUJ:
"The new director-general must be politically independent
Public service broadcasting has never been more important
The BBC board has a duty to resist political interference and politicians hostile to public service broadcasting"
Robust, unambiguous words on the BBC from the NUJ:
"The new director-general must be politically independent
Public service broadcasting has never been more important
The BBC board has a duty to resist political interference and politicians hostile to public service broadcasting"
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
A thread of informed observations.
if you pare back expertise and experience, you end up with a newsroom full of well-meaning kids with no old lags to go "er, no, you need to make clear that that's an edited speech"; you end up with an emasculated Newsnight; you end up with no scope to do time-consuming investigations.
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A thread of informed observations.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
if you pare back expertise and experience, you end up with a newsroom full of well-meaning kids with no old lags to go "er, no, you need to make clear that that's an edited speech"; you end up with an emasculated Newsnight; you end up with no scope to do time-consuming investigations.
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
if you pare back expertise and experience, you end up with a newsroom full of well-meaning kids with no old lags to go "er, no, you need to make clear that that's an edited speech"; you end up with an emasculated Newsnight; you end up with no scope to do time-consuming investigations.
A neglected factor in the BBC Panorama Trump edit crisis might be that the programme was made by an independent company outside BBC culture - there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence from old hands that this kind of edit was always unacceptable. Clearer is the split in the board...1/2
November 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A neglected factor in the BBC Panorama Trump edit crisis might be that the programme was made by an independent company outside BBC culture - there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence from old hands that this kind of edit was always unacceptable. Clearer is the split in the board...1/2
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
"The problem isn’t that we have a deliberately biased BBC, it’s that we have a BBC that has been consciously reduced in its scope and bullied into dumbing down and retreating." @stephenkb.bsky.social's newsletter today
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Extract from report in the Guardian on the right wing manoeuvres that have led to the resignation of the DG Tim Davie
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Extract from report in the Guardian on the right wing manoeuvres that have led to the resignation of the DG Tim Davie
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Nick Robinson closed the Today programme emphasising that the BBC Board is *still* fighting over the wording of a statement over the Panorama programme.
it is very strange that BBC chair Samir Shah is hiding this morning. He should by rights be on the Today programme presenting himself as in charge and hands on the tiller. I wonder if he is frightened for his position
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Nick Robinson closed the Today programme emphasising that the BBC Board is *still* fighting over the wording of a statement over the Panorama programme.
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Why aren’t more questions being asked about Prescott andHanover Comms, who their clients are, why they operate out of Abu Dhabi, where the leaks to the Redbird owned Telegraph fit in ?? As for Nandy we’re ’not afraid the regulate big tech’… lol
November 9, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Why aren’t more questions being asked about Prescott andHanover Comms, who their clients are, why they operate out of Abu Dhabi, where the leaks to the Redbird owned Telegraph fit in ?? As for Nandy we’re ’not afraid the regulate big tech’… lol
Now Katie Razzall at BBC News on the divisions within which prevented the Panorama speech edit being addressed most expeditiously. Robbie Gibb is named. BBC News - Katie Razzall: A seismic moment that shows rift at top of BBC
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Katie Razzall: A seismic moment that shows rift at top of BBC
There may be more to this than meets the eye, says the BBC's culture and media editor.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Now Katie Razzall at BBC News on the divisions within which prevented the Panorama speech edit being addressed most expeditiously. Robbie Gibb is named. BBC News - Katie Razzall: A seismic moment that shows rift at top of BBC
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack. With these resignations, it has given in | Jane Martinson
The corporation should have stood up to the Telegraph, Trump and the Tories. Now, its enemies know how little it takes for it to fold, says Jane Martinson, professor of financial journalism
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
Reposted by Matthew Kilburn
I want this BBC - my BBC back. It's been stolen from us by politics and politicians.
timworthington.org/2020/03/18/m...
timworthington.org/2020/03/18/m...
My Fleeting House
What do I think of when I see the letters ‘BBC’?
timworthington.org
November 9, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I want this BBC - my BBC back. It's been stolen from us by politics and politicians.
timworthington.org/2020/03/18/m...
timworthington.org/2020/03/18/m...