heretics. 597. Chris Packham Defends the BBC — But I Push Back Hard
Dec 11, 2025
Chris Packham, a renowned naturalist and environmental activist, engages in a fiery dialogue with Andrew Gold. They explore contentious themes like the BBC's role in media impartiality, with Chris defending its public service against claims of bias. The conversation dives into the impacts of woke culture, the complexities of the trans debate, and the urgent threats posed by climate change and biodiversity loss. Chris emphasizes personal responsibility and the need for effective communication to inspire change in environmental habits.
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BBC's Broader Public-Service Value
- The BBC remains valuable as an independent public-service broadcaster beyond just news.
- Chris Packham argues its documentary, entertainment and science output still offers rigorous fact-checking and reach.
Inclusion Corrects Historical Underrepresentation
- Packham sees diversity efforts as necessary to correct long-standing underrepresentation.
- He argues inclusion strengthens output even when some viewers perceive it as altering historical accuracy.
Why A Single BBC Mandate Is Implausible
- Large organisations like the BBC are unlikely to run a single, perfectly executed ideological mandate.
- Packham says scale, internal disagreement and poor cross-department communication make a coordinated bias implausible.
