Parcel delivery company Evri has filed a lawsuit against the BBC seeking £1.2m in damages over a Panorama documentary it claims caused serious financial loss. The high court claim states that Evri lost prospective clients after the broadcast of the programme titled Evri: Where’s my parcel?
Details of the Claim
In court documents, Evri’s barristers argue that a segment of the documentary wrongly suggests the company “deployed exploitative business practices” and misled parliament by falsely stating it did not underpay its couriers. Hugh Tomlinson KC, representing Evri, said: “The segment meant and was understood to mean that the claimant deployed exploitative business practices designed to reduce pay for its couriers, with the result that they are regularly unlawfully paid less than the national minimum wage; and misled parliament by providing false categorical assurances that couriers were not unlawfully paid below the minimum wage.”
Financial Impact
Evri, one of the largest parcel delivery firms in the UK, says the documentary caused the loss of prospective contracts worth approximately £1.2m. It is seeking special damages for that sum, along with general damages and an injunction to prevent the BBC from repeating the claims. The company is private equity-owned, having been bought by Apollo Capital Management in 2024 for £2.7bn.
Background and Response
The documentary, still available on BBC iPlayer, includes a note dated 1 July stating it is subject to a libel claim by Evri. The BBC’s description said Panorama reporters went undercover to investigate working conditions at a delivery unit, speaking to unhappy customers and couriers who said they struggle to make a living. Evri disputes these claims, stating it provides a fast, reliable service and that its couriers earn above the national minimum wage.
A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on legal proceedings. An Evri spokesperson said: “Evri can confirm it has issued a claim for defamation in respect of a Panorama broadcast published by the British Broadcasting Corporation on BBC One and online on 15 December 2025. As this case is ongoing, we will not comment further.”
