BBC director general Tim Davie told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that a Glastonbury performance by the rap group Bob Vylan, which was streamed on the broadcaster’s iPlayer, amounted to an "antisemitic broadcast" and said producers had "made a mistake" in allowing the material to air.
Davie described the scenes, in which the group chanted language he characterised as calling for violence, as "very disturbing" and said those involved were facing consequences, but he declined to provide further details because some matters remain subject to ongoing action. Committee members questioned how the material reached the livestream and whether staff had misread the situation, noting that the BBC had earlier decided not to air a separate performance by the group Kneecap because a member faces an allegation of supporting a terrorist organisation.
The hearing also examined broader questions about the corporation’s editorial judgment and culture after a series of recent controversies, including the decision to broadcast the documentary Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone, which was later revealed to have been narrated by the son of a high-ranking Hamas official, and complaints about MasterChef host Gregg Wallace. Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage described the documentary episode as a "hugely damaging episode" for the BBC’s reputation for impartiality.
Asked whether he could give a "categorical assurance" that there would be no further scandals involving senior BBC figures, Davie said he could not. "Can I give a categorical assurance that I'm never going to have someone abusing their power at the BBC? No," he told MPs, adding that cultural change was "ongoing work" and that the organisation might see more issues emerge as it pursues transparency.
Davie said he did not recognise the term "talent" to describe BBC staff and argued that higher levels of scrutiny — including people calling out problematic behaviour — represented positive change. He said the BBC had dismissed people who were not "living our values" and described that as "non-negotiable." When pressed on whether he would consider his own position in light of the summer’s controversies, Davie said he had been "feeling the pressure" and that the job was "not for the faint-hearted," but he declined to answer directly at the start of the session.
On the decision to air the final series of MasterChef featuring John Torode and Gregg Wallace, Davie said the BBC had consulted extensively with contestants and that the "vast, vast majority" supported broadcasting the show. He acknowledged the decision was difficult and said the matter had significant consequences for individuals involved, who are no longer working with the broadcaster.
Labour MP James Frith told the committee the Bob Vylan performance "whipped up" the crowd into an "antisemitic frenzy," and asked whether staff had misread the live event. Davie said staff involved were "well intentioned people who made a mistake," and that the corporation was taking action without providing a running commentary on those personnel matters.
The pair answering questions at the committee included Davie and BBC chair Dr. Samir Shah. MPs pressed them on complaint handling, editorial checks applied to live broadcasts and how the broadcaster would restore public trust. Davie said he was "ensuring the BBC is taking the right actions" and that the organisation was focused on transparency and change.
The committee session came amid heightened scrutiny of public broadcasters and their editorial decisions. Davie and Shah face further questioning as MPs seek detailed explanations of how the BBC reviews live transmissions and safeguards impartiality, particularly in coverage and programming that touches on conflict and extremism. The BBC has said it will examine the incidents raised in the hearing and implement changes where appropriate.