LONDON 鈥� The BBC鈥檚 coverage of the death of Prince Philip has drawn almost 110,000 complaints from the public, making it the most complained-about piece of television programming ever in the U.K.
The broadcaster cleared its normal schedules across two TV channels on Friday to run a series of special programs after Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 husband died at the age of 99. Popular shows like 鈥淓astEnders鈥� and the 鈥淢asterchef鈥� cookery competition show were postponed and replaced by news programs and pre-recorded tributes, and the BBC Four channel was taken off air completely.
BBC radio stations also aired programs about Philip.
The BBC said in a statement Thursday that Philip鈥檚 death was a 鈥渟ignificant event which generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally,鈥� but acknowledged that some thought the rolling coverage was excessive.
鈥淲e acknowledge some viewers were unhappy with the level of coverage given and impact this had on the billed TV and radio schedules,鈥� it continued. 鈥淲e do not make such changes without careful consideration and the decisions made reflect the role the BBC plays as the national broadcaster during moments of national significance.鈥�
The corporation also received complaints about its decision to include Prince Andrew in its tributes coverage despite his association with U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It said it had 鈥渁ppropriately covered his comments,鈥� fully reported on the allegations against Andrew, and made it clear that he had not been charged with any crime.
The last time a U.K. broadcaster received a flood of complaints was in March, when talk show host Piers Morgan commented about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex鈥檚 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Morgan鈥檚 comments dismissing the duchess鈥檚 account of suffering suicidal thoughts and racism in the monarchy drew more than 57,000 complaints.
The Associated Press
