Delivery giant Evri has launched a High Court libel action against the BBC, seeking approximately £1.2 million in damages. The company claims a 15-minute segment of the BBC documentary "Evri-Where's My Parcel?", broadcast on December 15, 2024, inflicted significant financial loss and reputational harm.
Court documents reveal Evri's contention that the program falsely accused the company of exploiting its couriers by paying them below the National Minimum Wage and misleading Parliament regarding its employment practices. Evri vehemently denies these allegations, asserting the claims are untrue and that the broadcast deterred potential customers, resulting in the loss of contracts valued at over £1.1 million.
In addition to seeking around £1.2 million in special damages, Evri is requesting general damages and an injunction to prevent the BBC from repeating the allegations or rebroadcasting the documentary. The BBC has not yet filed a defense and stated it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
Evri, which delivers approximately 900 million parcels annually, argues that the Panorama program created the impression of "exploitative business practices" aimed at reducing courier pay and that the company misled Members of Parliament about its workers being paid correctly. The documentary, which remains available on BBC iPlayer, reportedly featured an undercover reporter investigating conditions at a delivery unit and included accounts from customers and couriers expressing concerns about earning a living.
The company maintains that its couriers earn more than the National Minimum Wage and that it provides a reliable and cost-effective delivery service. According to Evri's claim, prospective contracts that would have generated an estimated £1,164,434 in pre-tax profits were lost, with some clients explicitly citing the Panorama program as the reason for their decision. Evri also stated it incurred £32,843 in costs to address the fallout, including customer reassurance and providing evidence to a House of Commons committee.
Evri's legal team further contends that the documentary could impede future courier recruitment, as potential workers may believe they cannot be guaranteed at least the minimum wage. The case is awaiting its first hearing in the High Court.
This legal challenge follows another significant legal battle involving a Panorama documentary. Lawyers for former U.S. President Donald Trump are contesting a $10 billion defamation case related to a separate documentary aired in October 2024, which was accused of misrepresenting statements made by Trump before the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol events. That earlier controversy led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness.