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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be hurt and annoyed at being dropped by the BBC?

641 replies

Ladyof2025 · 12/02/2025 18:14

BBC contacted me asking me to speak on camera about an aspect of local history I happen to know a bit about. I agreed and spent the next few days brushing up on the facts and then writing and rewriting a script and reading it out loud again and again until I knew it by heart and could speak confidently to camera as though I'd never said it before.

I do not have a pretty face, and am in my 60s and rather podgy, but I went to the trouble of going through my wardrobe for the perfect outfit that flattered my podginess, and had my hair cut specially and put on some make up, so I could be the best possible version of me that I could.

The production team visited, took me to the site and filmed me speaking. I did it smoothly and confidently and was glad that I had put in all the rehearsal so I came across as knowledgeable, professional and confident of my material. They said my performance was perfect, thanked me profusely and left.

After about a week they rang me to say that due to time and space issues the section of the programme that featured my input had been dropped. I felt absolutely gutted, not because I want to see myself on TV but because I had used up a lot of my valuable free time for several days preparing and rehearsing for it (for no fee I should add).

A few months later the programme I was dropped from came on TV and to my utter astonishment an attractive, slim young lady appeared, at the same site I was filmed at, and she spoke the exact words I had written and rehearsed! I nearly fell off my chair - the absolute bloody cheek of dropping ME but stealing the script that I had written. Thinking about it, I realised that they wanted my expert input, but not my saggy face or ample figure.

AIBU to be hurt and angry?

OP posts:
daleylama · 11/03/2025 20:51

BeAzureAnt · 13/02/2025 23:30

I'm glad you agree you don't know what happened.

I've been on national radio (In Our Time and Today), BBC TV as an interviewee, and on another international channel being interviewed about my academic research. Sometimes my material was included, sometimes it was not, but the thing that grinds my gears and that of my colleagues is that people provide free labour, and it happens repeatedly that people are never told if the material is not included. This can be after a morning of filming, several hours of providing information and answering questions. There is often not even a thank you.

There are a number of my colleagues now that refuse to work with the media because of things like this or are insisting on consultancy payment after 1/2 hour conversation. This treatment was brought up at the 2021 UKRI gathering for academics on how to translate their work into television, and it was acknowledged that things need to improve. They clearly haven't from what I have seen in this thread. That is disappointing, if not surprising.

Of course not bothering to contact people after you get the information you want for not the end of the world to you or anyone in the industry! You got what you wanted for free and wasted someone's else's time, and then it is too much trouble to have the courtesy to contact them? I call BS on that. And, then of course, once you have the information, you can condescend to the person who provides it and say, well dear, you should practice and practice and practice in the hopes someday you might just be good enough to take your information and time, for free. And, oh, don't count on us bothering to email to tell you by the way.

Do you know how arrogant this looks? It is ridiculous.

Show quote history

Or....you all could just refuse to participate ? But you 'all' don't ! A lot of TV people lose track of how 'outsiders' respond to being involved. Some are just arrogant about being 'in media'. . Conversely some people take their treatment ,as part of the process of gathering material , waaay too seriously. Its only TV. Relax.

daleylama · 11/03/2025 20:58

Producethis · 16/02/2025 20:08

Adults with full capacity can make their own decisions. It’s infantilising the OP - who is clearly intelligent and accomplished - to suggest she was unable to understand the contents of the release form.

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HFTB, collecting Vox Pops,,agree with you. Asking someone to contribute a PTC because of their specialist knowledge..no. Taking advantage of someone wanting to publicise their specialist subject is just shitty , tho as far as media goes, is also NFN (Normal For Norfolk). Your respondent also has it wrong - a release form simply says you agree to have your input included, no other rights prevail.

daleylama · 11/03/2025 21:59

AnnetteCurtain1 · 22/02/2025 18:52

Don’t they have discarded rushes and keep the rushes? Won’t his contributions have been catalogued?

Show quote history

Probably already recorded over. Your expectations of operations are a little high. Also - if they were 'catalogued' , what then?

daleylama · 11/03/2025 22:08

OhDeerohDeerie · 13/02/2025 09:53

In fact I asked Chat GPT for you

The situation described involves the BBC replacing your on-camera contribution with another individual delivering your prepared script, without prior notification or consent. This raises concerns regarding fair treatment and respect for contributors.

The BBC’s Editorial Values emphasize the importance of trust, truth, accuracy, impartiality, and fairness. Specifically, Section 1.3 of the Editorial Guidelines states:

“We will be open in acknowledging mistakes when they are made and encourage a culture of willingness to learn from them.”  

In your complaint, you should highlight that the BBC did not inform you about the replacement or seek your consent to use your script, which contradicts their commitment to openness and fairness. Additionally, the lack of acknowledgment for your contribution and the use of your script without permission may constitute unjust or unfair treatment, as outlined in Sections Seven (“Fairness”) and Eight (“Privacy”) of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. 

To address this, you can file a complaint directly with Ofcom, as fairness and privacy complaints are exempt from the ‘BBC First’ approach. Ensure your complaint includes:
• The programme’s name and broadcast date.
• Details of your involvement and the subsequent replacement.
• How this action caused you unjust or unfair treatment.

For guidance on submitting your complaint, refer to Ofcom’s “Procedures for the consideration and adjudication of Fairness and Privacy complaints.”

By detailing these points, you can effectively communicate how the BBC’s actions conflicted with their stated values and regulatory obligations.

Also a really good way to ensure that she never is asked to participate in a programme again. I understand her hurt, would guarantee her delivery was the issue . They should have had the sense to tell her that, but time/ training/ inexperienced team, who knows. . End of. Your advice is turning a small issue into a major drama. The OP is already overly invested in this.

daleylama · 11/03/2025 22:11

Katisha · 21/02/2025 11:39

I agree, which is why I would prefer the OP contact them, as they may well need to learn this.

Show quote history

yes, but not in the inflammatory way some have suggested and everything she says indicates she would be reacting with them. Yes contact, to allow a sense of owning the situation , but only if OP can put this calmly, as in, 'would have been a courtesy to inform me'.

AnnetteCurtain1 · 14/03/2025 00:04

daleylama · 11/03/2025 21:59

Probably already recorded over. Your expectations of operations are a little high. Also - if they were 'catalogued' , what then?

Show quote history

lol. What a pompous reply.

Have you ever seen the operations or how this industry works in person? No? Thought not.

daleylama · 14/03/2025 00:42

AnnetteCurtain1 · 14/03/2025 00:04

lol. What a pompous reply.

Have you ever seen the operations or how this industry works in person? No? Thought not.

Show quote history

I worked in TV and film for 30 years and then as an agent for staff for 15 years. I've seen young production staff behave badly with the public out of ego, and public get wound up over nothing because they see a tiny bit of TV exposure as a massive deal. Its just TV. Its the insecurity that's the issue. Next?

User14March · 30/04/2025 22:23

I wish them well but there is a chance if children deviate from expectations history may repeat for M.

It’s a dangerous game to keep spouting about perfection & love & hoping kids thrilled with hundreds of emails at 16-18 may not land as hoped as others have said. The kids might hold her feet to flame in future & ask her about her choices & may rebel. What if they’ve not academic like Mum? Teens are often not doe eyed little mini mes, sadly ;)

What if Lili is like Great Aunt Anne & practical in character & turns back on fluff, tweeness? Why do I get Mommie Dearest vibes potentially?

An anonymous ish life where kids can use their privilege to pursue sport/equestrian life or academic life if so inclined to a high level & find fulfilment is what I’d hope for. Zara P has turned out well & looks to be doing a great job re: family life.

User14March · 30/04/2025 22:25

Wrong thread

User14March · 01/07/2025 11:48

Henry Beckwith & Geri Halliwell. She liked the well connected.

HotCrossBunplease · 02/07/2025 08:12

Have you lost your way while looking for Tattle Life @User14March ?

daleylama · 04/07/2025 11:44

User14March · 30/04/2025 22:23

I wish them well but there is a chance if children deviate from expectations history may repeat for M.

It’s a dangerous game to keep spouting about perfection & love & hoping kids thrilled with hundreds of emails at 16-18 may not land as hoped as others have said. The kids might hold her feet to flame in future & ask her about her choices & may rebel. What if they’ve not academic like Mum? Teens are often not doe eyed little mini mes, sadly ;)

What if Lili is like Great Aunt Anne & practical in character & turns back on fluff, tweeness? Why do I get Mommie Dearest vibes potentially?

An anonymous ish life where kids can use their privilege to pursue sport/equestrian life or academic life if so inclined to a high level & find fulfilment is what I’d hope for. Zara P has turned out well & looks to be doing a great job re: family life.

wrong thread

purpleme12 · 04/07/2025 12:25

Can't believe you went back and quoted a post from April to say that!

daleylama · 04/07/2025 17:45

purpleme12 · 04/07/2025 12:25

Can't believe you went back and quoted a post from April to say that!

it flagged up today. Can't believe you took the time to criticise

purpleme12 · 04/07/2025 17:51

You had a notification of the post from April today?

purpleme12 · 04/07/2025 17:53

Just thought it was strange that you'd quote it today to tell the poster that it was the wrong thread months after. They'll have forgotten all about it probably

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