LONDON: Acclaimed TV director Peter Kosminsky has accused UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy of attempting to “bully” the BBC over its coverage of the Gaza conflict.
In a strongly worded letter, Kosminsky — known for the BBC historical drama “Wolf Hall” — likened the government’s actions to those of a “tinpot dictatorship” and warned against sustained pressure on BBC Director General Tim Davie.
“Could I respectfully suggest that you stop trying to bully the BBC, the nation’s primary public service broadcaster, over its coverage of the war in Gaza,” wrote Kosminsky in the letter, reported by The Guardian.
He argued that politicians should not “police the individual editorial decisions of the BBC,” stressing the broadcaster must, above all, maintain public trust. His letter echoed warnings from veteran BBC figure Richard Ayre, who described Nandy’s direct intervention as “outrageous.”
Nandy has been a vocal critic of the BBC, pressuring the broadcaster to withdraw its Gaza documentary “How To Survive a Warzone” after it emerged the young narrator was the son of a Hamas official. She also criticized the broadcasting of a Glastonbury Festival segment featuring the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan chanting anti-IDF slogans.
“For its part, the BBC must ensure that its output is balanced. But this means balanced across the totality of its output,” said Kosminsky, cautioning that past conflicts between government and BBC had ended tragically and citing the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly in 2003.
Meanwhile, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has acknowledged recent “serious failures” at the BBC but framed Nandy’s criticism as justified accountability on behalf of license-fee payers. A spokesperson reiterated that editorial independence remained paramount.
The controversy comes amid crucial discussions over the BBC’s future funding and charter renewal, adding further pressure on its leadership — particularly Davie, who faces mounting scrutiny and internal dissatisfaction over perceived lapses in impartiality and editorial oversight.
