BBC to Require New Anti-Bullying Pledge from On-Screen Talent

Tim Davie told an audience in Salford on May 14 that the BBC will only contract on-screen talent who agree to the anti-bullying code set by the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority. His announcement followed a review, prompted by Huw Edwards’s guilty plea, which found that a small number of misconduct cases had harmed staff morale and public trust.

The CIISA framework requires safe working environments, inclusive cultures, clear reporting channels and ongoing learning. Davie warned that unchecked power can lead to abuse and pointed to Match of the Day host Gary Lineker’s recent Instagram post—later deleted—as a possible breach of the BBC’s social media rules. He urged all presenters to follow the broadcaster’s guidelines.

Davie also pressed for stronger support for UK television production, calling on government to boost high-end tax credits and aid vulnerable genres to keep British intellectual property on home soil. He announced plans to open BBC Studios to digital creators and expand BBC News’s presence on YouTube and TikTok to direct audiences toward official coverage.

He confirmed the BBC will work with major tech firms to integrate artificial intelligence responsibly across its news and production operations.