The BBC has faced widespread criticism for deploying a helicopter to provide live, two-hour coverage of Andy Burnham's train journey from Manchester to London on Monday, with viewers branding the stunt a waste of licence fee money and insensitive to a recent fatal train crash.
Burnham's return to Westminster
Just hours after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister outside No. 10, Andy Burnham travelled to Westminster by train after his victory in the Makerfield by-election. The BBC and Sky both deployed helicopters to follow the train and the cab journey into London, as shown in footage shared on social media.
Viewers react with anger
Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their disappointment. One user wrote: "Really, BBC News? You have chartered or paid for a helicopter, presumably funded by us, the TV license holders, to give us an overhead 'live' picture of a train with Andy Burnham. Do you actually think that was needed?" Another said: "The same BBC News that is cutting budgets and offloading staff, paid for a helicopter to follow a train from Manchester to London. I can never work out why they do this."
Insensitive timing after train crash
The coverage came just days after a train crash in Bedford that killed the driver and left eight people in critical condition, according to British Transport Police. A third viewer commented: "It's a bit insensitive to the train crash victims. A bit of a weird coincidence, too. A deadly train crash followed by a new Prime Minister arriving on a train. Read the room..."
BBC cost-cutting controversy
The helicopter stunt occurred less than a week after the BBC announced 550 job cuts in news, nations, and TV and radio content as part of a plan to save £550 million over two years. The UK TV licence fee rose to £180 in April 2026, adding to the controversy over spending priorities.
Criticism of journalistic judgment
The author, a senior showbiz reporter, described the coverage as "baffling and boring as hell," comparing it to a "Poundland version of the early 90s OJ Simpson car chase." They argued that the same effect could have been achieved by having cameramen at Euston station or outside Parliament, where Burnham received applause from Labour colleagues after nearly a decade away.
The article concludes that the BBC should either issue an apology or be prepared to drop the licence fee by Christmas, echoing the sentiment of many viewers who felt the coverage was unnecessary and a waste of money.
