“Jews don’t count” at the BBC, staff have warned as part of a complaint about “systemic anti-Semitism”.
More than 200 staff, contractors, suppliers and contributors wrote to the board and Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, demanding “an urgent formal investigation” into what is described as “anti-Jewish racism”.
The letter includes details of when Jewish staff have experienced “prejudice and racism at work” and says that there is “a loss of faith in the BBC within our community and a widespread opinion that, when it comes to racism and discrimination at the BBC, “Jews don’t count”.
If other minorities were treated in the same way the corporation would “show zero tolerance”, the letter alleges.
The calls for an investigation have been “dismissed” by Mr Shah, who in response praised the “inclusive” culture at the corporation and pointed to the whistleblower process.
His response has led to claims of “gaslighting”, with signatory Neil Grant, a Bafta-award-winning executive producer, noting: “When Jews tell you they feel anti Semitism, don’t question it or define it for us.”
After Mr Shah’s letter an employee, speaking anonymously, noted: “Every week it gets a little harder being a Jew at the BBC.
“Harder to sit in the office and listen to colleagues discussing their very personal views about the war in Gaza and attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel, harder listening, watching and reading the loaded output about events in the Middle East and colleagues’ partial and often offensive social media posts, and harder to go home at night and speak to friends and family who hold me responsible for the BBC contributing to the rise in anti-Semitism in the UK because I am an employee and so guilty by association.”
The row emerged just days after the Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote to Sky News accusing correspondent Alex Crawford of a “disgraceful lack of professionalism” over a piece in which she said that Israel has a “lust for revenge” .
The BBC letter “raising serious concerns about anti-Jewish racism” was sent to the board and Mr Shah in July 2024.
It included a dossier of evidence alleging breaches of the social media guidelines by stars including Gary Lineker, providing examples of “inaccuracy” and “bias” in the BBC’s coverage of the war in Gaza and testimony from Jewish employees.
It came after dissatisfaction with the response to previous complaints to senior management which alleged “monumental double standard” on racism.
The 208 signatories included Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, and Claudia Rosencrantz, formerly the controller of entertainment for ITV.
A further 112, many of whom are BBC staff, “feel it necessary to remain anonymous”.
It says: “We write to you today to request an urgent formal investigation by the BBC board into systemic problems of anti-Semitism and bias at the BBC, alongside senior management’s demonstrable failure to properly address the issue.”
Mr Shah responded last week saying that it was of “great concern” that some staff felt that way but that he believes the corporation is “successful” in creating an “inclusive working environment where people from all backgrounds feel welcome, safe and supported”.
“I am satisfied, however, that where we have made errors, the executive have acted appropriately and handled matters in accordance to the guidance as they apply to my colleagues,” Mr Shah added. “Following your correspondence, I have asked the executive to review the papers you sent and to see if there’s anything included that has not been previously considered.”
Leo Pearlman, a film producer and signatory to the complaint, said that the “dismissive letter” has dashed the hopes of British Jews that someone at the corporation “would finally take our fears and complaints seriously”.
“No other minority has been or ever will be treated with this level of disdain. Over 200 Jews from within the industry, many of whom work at the BBC, felt the need to add their names to a detailed letter, over 30 pages of grievances beyond refute,” he said.
“The response, nothing to see here, not even worthy of an investigation, gaslighting by every definition.”
Fellow signatory Will Daws, managing director at Plum Pictures, added that the response “would have made that ex-employee George Orwell smile”.
Describing the response as “disingenuous and frankly mealy mouthed”, Mr Daws said: “The BBC has a systemic problem with its reporting of Israel that often crosses the line into anti-Semitism. I for one will not be placated with merely sympathetic words. To quote Orwell – “Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear” – unless you’re Jewish writing to the BBC board he could have added.”
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC chairman has responded to this letter directly.
“It is a great concern to us if anyone does not feel supported at work and we have well-established and robust processes in place to handle any concerns or complaints raised with us confidentially. We have highlighted these to the signatories of the letter. As an organisation, we stand united against any form of abuse, prejudice or intolerance.
“Editorially, we are committed to the highest standards of impartiality in our journalism and in a small number of cases where there have been mistakes we have acknowledged this. Where staff conduct has fallen below expectations, we have taken action.”
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