Dan Walker, 43, has once again jumped to defend the BBC following backlash from viewers claiming the broadcaster is part of a “political conspiracy”, “pro-Conservative Party” and are now “brainwashing” their employees.
As the general election looms ever closer, it’s all been kicking off for BBC, as some viewers have been left unhappy with the way they conduct their political reporting.
The broadcaster was called out earlier this month, after BBC Breakfast used clips from 2016 Remembrance Day, and were accused of “editing” the footage to make Prime Minister Boris Johnson appear in a “better light”.
Over the weekend, Dan responded to a series of tweets from viewers that said they are witnessing the “self-destruction” of BBC News as a “creditable organisation” and for the broadcaste
Please listen to Mr Edwards on this one. It’s just not true P.S. Huw… I cannot respond to [the tweet] at the moment as I’m waiting for the next email from our overlords to tell me what to say and what to ask
r to “respect and listen” to people instead.
Dan’s response came directly after BBC News anchor Huw Edwards, also hit out at viewers.
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In two tweets, Huw replied to a viewer that claimed the BBC “needs to explain itself”.
His first reply read: “Ah right! You get an entire workforce of stroppy @BBCNewsjournos to follow an order to support X and dump on Y. Easy! You do realise you sound crackers?”
He was hit largely with negative responses as he directed an additional comment at another unhappy user.
“I listen in countless public meetings and have been accountable for the past 35 years. Now read my tweet again and tell me how you brainwash an entire workforce. Go on. I’m intrigued as are thousands of @BBCNewsstaff,” he said to the viewer, referring to the first tweet.
Dan then weighed into the conversation and supported his BBC colleague.
“Please listen to Mr Edwards on this one. It’s just not true P.S. Huw… I cannot respond to [the tweet] at the moment as I’m waiting for the next email from our overlords to tell me what to say and what to ask,” he said sarcastically.
The quarrel between the BBC employees and viewers stemmed from a tweet by an anti-Conservative account, that accused the BBC of “editing out” the audience laughs at Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was question about “trust” on BBC Question Time, calling it “unforgivable journalism”.
The series of tweets drew in a dramatic amount of attention from people who were adamant that something wasn’t right.
One user said: “Dan this is patronising in the extreme. If you can’t see that the BBC is having an extraordinary amount of ‘gaffs’ when it comes to political coverage of the Tories right now people might just believe you are being told what to say.”
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Another user doubted: “So much respect for both you and Huw, but there are some questionable editorial decisions being made currently that are damaging credibility of a great organisation.”
“That’s a very head in the sand approach. And defensive. I also expected better of your Dan. As the replies say, you don’t have to brainwash an entire workforce. And to think ‘it doesn’t happen at the BBC’ is at best Naïve,” a third seemed disappointed.
A fourth snapped: “So where’s the laughter? Where’s the johnson Remembrance Day mistake? Coincidence?!”
But among the backlash, some viewers had both BBC presenter’s backs in this whole debacle surrounding the current British political climate.
One explained: “I don’t see it as brainwashing just staff doing what they’re told, including presenters and the questions that they ask.”
“People’s obsession with the BBC is something that I’ll never be able to comprehend. Do people not have better things to do with their lives?” Another said, bewildered.
A third did some digging to prove a point: “To all responding to this, Dan is right. Go and watch the FULL video of Johnson’s answer, not just the two clips running around Twitter. The Twitter clips show completely different moments in time. The supposed ‘edited’ version is just Johnson speaking six seconds later.”
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays at 6am.