The number of formal complaints made about the BBC to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has seen a significant decline, dropping by nearly 20% in the year ending March 2025 according to newly released data.
Complaint Figures Show Notable Decline
Ofcom's annual report on the BBC reveals that the regulator received 2,204 complaints about BBC content during the most recent reporting period. This represents a substantial decrease from the 2,709 complaints recorded in the previous year - a reduction of 505 cases.
The decline comes despite what Ofcom describes as a period of "significant crisis" for the national broadcaster, particularly concerning editorial decision-making within its news and current affairs departments.
Behind the Numbers: Editorial Crises and Leadership Changes
The report's publication follows turbulent months for the BBC that saw the resignation of both director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. Their departures came in the wake of a leaked memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott that raised serious concerns about the selective editing of a speech by US President Donald Trump in a 2024 Panorama episode.
Ofcom noted that the decrease in complaints was partly driven by fewer due impartiality complaints compared to previous years. The regulator also highlighted that the 2023/24 figures had been unusually high due to the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict, which generated a significant spike in viewer complaints.
Under standard procedure, viewers must first complain directly to the BBC before escalating their concerns to Ofcom, meaning the reported figures represent only those cases where complainants remained unsatisfied with the BBC's initial response.
Election Coverage and Recent Controversies
During the 2024 UK general election period, Ofcom received approximately 400 complaints about the impartiality of BBC election content. However, the regulator concluded that none of these complaints warranted further investigation, stating that "on the basis of complaints we have received from audiences, the BBC has a good record of complying with broadcasting rules intended to ensure that programming is duly impartial."
Since the reporting period ended, the BBC has faced additional controversies not reflected in the latest complaint figures. These include the live broadcast of Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance where punk rappers led chants of "death to the IDF" (Israel Defence Forces), and misconduct allegations surrounding former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.
More recently, Ofcom sanctioned the BBC for breaching the Broadcasting Code in its Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary after the corporation failed to disclose a narrator's links to Hamas.
Regulatory Pressure and Future Challenges
In its report, Ofcom reiterated its call for the BBC's board and executive leadership to "take a firmer grip" when problems arise and to "act swiftly and transparently when controversies emerge."
The regulator emphasised that the BBC must continue to find new ways to secure audience trust, regardless of how people access news, to maintain its position as a valued and trusted national institution.
Ofcom also addressed concerns about the BBC's impact on commercial local news providers, stating it would continue monitoring the effects of the BBC's expanded local news service. While previous analysis found "no significant evidence that the BBC's expanded output is causally linked to the declines experienced by commercial providers," the regulator acknowledged that these changes "may be contributing to some degree."
Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association, warned of a "structural imbalance" and argued that the BBC's growth is contributing to pressures facing commercial providers. He called for the upcoming BBC charter renewal to introduce "guardrails, transparency, and the competitive fairness needed so that the BBC and commercial local journalism can genuinely complement each other."
