A decade after hundreds of complaints over its coverage of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the BBC has guaranteed not to screw up its Platinum Jubilee broadcasts.
In 2012, the Corporation was widely chastised for ‘dumbing down’ the celebrations.
A scene in which presenter Fearne Cotton showed viewers a sick-bag emblazoned with the Queen’s likeness sparked a lot of outrage.
The BBC’s ‘inane’ coverage of the River Pageant, as well as its celebrity interviews, were also criticized by viewers. ‘Celebrity-driven garbage’ was how the event was described.
Former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker was described as ‘unprepared, ill-informed and patronising’ following his stints on air as part of the BBC team.
On one occasion, he described the monarch as ‘Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II’, rather than Her Majesty. Overall, the broadcaster received more than 4,500 complaints.
Among the critics were Alan Titchmarsh and Stephen Fry, who attacked the BBC after Baker’s gaffe.
But, speaking in The Times today, Charlotte Moore, the corporation’s chief content officer, said the broadcaster was keen to avoid the mistakes of 2012.
‘We’re very mindful to make sure that everybody is properly briefed. The logistics and planning that’s gone into next week is quite extraordinary,’ she said.
Several well-known BBC stars are contributing to the coverage of the Platinum Jubilee from Thursday through to Sunday, including Huw Edwards, Clive Myrie and Clare Balding. Kirsty Young, who presented BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs for 12 years, will be the lead anchor.
The celebrations begin on Thursday with Trooping the Colour, after which the Queen will join other members of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast by more than 70 aircraft from the Royal Air Force, Army and Royal navy.
Moore also denied reports of a rift between Buckingham Palace and the BBC following the corporation’s documentary last year that assessed the media relations of the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex.
At the time, an extraordinary joint statement from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensingson Palace said the series had contained ‘overblown and unfounded claims’.
Buckingham Palace reportedly threatened a boycott on future projects with the BBC after courtiers were not allowed to view the programme before the first episode aired.
But Moore said: ‘It’s been a really great collaboration where we’ve worked with all of our partners, from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the royal households, to make this right.’
The criticism levelled at the BBC in 2012 came after several on-air gaffes by presenters.
Cotton was slammed following a segment with pop star Paloma Faith, in which the pair held up sick bags adorned with the Queen’s face. A strapline on the bags urged users to ‘keep this handy in June 2012’.
Holding the bag, Miss Faith explained: ‘If you’ve eaten too much, you can just vomit into a jubilee sick-bag.’
Miss Cotton replied: ‘How lovely is that? And the colours, red or blue, it’s up to you.’
Also shown was a paper mask of the Queen’s face, a solar-powered model of Her Majesty and a monarch-shaped ice cream scoop.
Other gaffes included the moment that a fashion expert, who was discussing royal headwear, said the Duchess of Cambridge’s hat was made by the same milliner who ‘made Nelson’s hat for Waterloo’.
This went uncorrected despite the fact that Admiral Lord Nelson died at Trafalgar, ten years before the Battle of Waterloo.
At other points the Coronation date was given as 1952 rather than 1953, while the Duke of Edinburgh who was then 90, was said to be 92
The Corporation’s coverage of the Thames river pageant was described as ‘celebrity-driven drivel’ as One Show host Baker came in for heavy criticism.
The presenter, who appeared alongside Sophie Raworth, was described as ‘unprepared, ill-informed and patronising.’
As well as wrongly addressing the Queen as ‘Her Royal Highness’, he also admitted he did not know the meaning of semaphore – the system of communication using flag and hand signals.
Cotton was also criticised after she addressed a Second World War veteran during an interview as ‘Jim’, even though his name was John.
Presenters twice reported that the naval warship HMS Belfast, which is moored on the Thames near Tower Bridge, was 91,000 tonnes. This would make it by far the heaviest vessel ever. In fact, the ship weighs 11,500 tonnes.
High-profile critics of the coverage included Mr Fry, who said on Twitter: ‘Has the BBC ever presented a more mind-numbingly tedious programme in its history?
‘HRH The Queen, said the first ignorant presenter. HRH?
‘But, dear me, this is eggier and cheesier than a collapsed souffle. Deeply embarrassing.’
BBC veteran Michael Buerk was another critical voice. In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he argued the Diamond Jubilee was ‘betrayed’ by dumbed-down coverage.
‘The one enduring British institution [the Monarchy] was mocked by another that had shamefully lost its way,’ he wrote.
‘On the screen, a succession of Daytime airheads preened themselves, or gossiped with even more vacuous D-list ‘celebrities’. With barely an exception, they were cringingly inept.’
The BBC’s coverage on Thursday begins at 10am with Trooping the Colour and the subsequent RAF flypast.
From 8pm on BBC One, the corporation will then show its coverage of the lighting of thousands of beacons around the UK.
The Royal Family will watch the lighting of the principle beacon outside Buckingham Palace.
On Friday from 9.15am, the BBC will show the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The event will be attended by the Royal Family and will be presented by veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby, along with Sophie Raworth.
On Saturday, from 7.30pm, the BBC will host the Platinum Party at the Palace concert in front of Buckingham Palace.
It will feature stars including Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran and Diana Ross and will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Then on Sunday the BBC will show the Jubilee Pageant from 1pm.
A spectacular parade featuring a cast of thousands including puppets and celebrities and tributes to the seven decades of the Queen’s reign will move down The Mall and past Buckingham Palace.
The finale will feature Ed Sheeran performing, and the singing of the national anthem in front of the palace.
Viewers will also be able to watch the celebrations on Sky News from Thursday.