Archbishop of York discusses BBC religious output in panel

Stephen Cottrell, who is the Church’s second most senior bishop, branded religious broadcasting the “poor and underfunded relative” at the public broadcaster.

He insisted religious and public service broadcasting is a “precious bulwark against polarisation” in a world he said was increasingly divided.

The archbishop’s comments came in a panel discussion – hosted by the Religion Media Centre on Tuesday, March 3 – about the Government Green Paper published in December with proposed changes to the next BBC Charter, which is up for renewal at the end of 2027.

A spokesperson for the corporation said the BBC delivers an unrivalled range of ambitious, timely and thought-provoking religion and ethics content across TV, radio and online.

Panelists around the table included Bishop John Arnold, who told the discussion that religious broadcasting is “absolutely necessary, and where it does exist, I think it’s generally done very well — I appreciate the variety that it offers, both in theological terms, but also through dramas, entertainment, pilgrimages etc.”

A consultation published alongside the Green Paper asked what kind of programming the BBC should make more visible on its platforms, with options including religious programming which it said, alongside arts and international affairs, are sometimes seen as “under-served genres”.

The archbishop told the discussion that while he wanted to “celebrate and support, generally speaking, what the BBC is doing”, he had noted a decrease in religious broadcasting at the corporation.

He said: “My concern is much more about the place of religion across the whole output of the BBC, rather than simply seeing it as religious broadcasting in that rather more narrow definition.

“So I note with sadness and some distress the sometimes appalling lack of religious literacy in so much of the BBC.”

He argued that religion has “such an important part to play” in society.

Stephen Cottrell said: “When you think about, you know, the distressing polarisation of our society at the moment, the echo chambers within which people live and receive news and information.

“I know it’s a hard thing to fight for – religious broadcasting and public service broadcasting – but I believe it is a precious bulwark against polarisation, intolerance, prejudice, chaos.

“And the fact is that religion is a vital part of how millions and millions of people in Britain today get their belonging, their values, their purpose, their identity.”

He said: “Religious broadcasting increasingly becomes the poor and underfunded relative in a BBC which I believe needs to be reminded of its core business.”

But Humanists UK’s chief executive Andrew Copson said the BBC must reflect “the full reality of modern Britain, including the majority who are now non-religious”.

Responding to Mr Cottrell’s comments in a statement, he said: “The BBC’s religion output, such as Thought for the Day, remains heavily weighted towards programmes ‘by believers for believers’, with no equivalent space for humanists and other non-religious people to speak directly about their ethical outlook and sense of meaning.

“If the BBC is to strengthen social cohesion, it should be genuinely inclusive.

“It must treat non-religious worldviews with equal respect and proportionate visibility, rather than sustaining one set of identities while excluding others.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC delivers an unrivalled range of ambitious, timely and thought-provoking religion and ethics content across TV, radio and online.

“The BBC is responsible for the vast majority of the UK’s religious programming – far exceeding, by our own choice, what we are required to do.

“Our programming not only represents faith and world beliefs, but includes a wide range of perspectives, including those who are agnostic or atheist.

“It recognises the vital role religion, faith and beliefs play in connecting communities and in helping people to understand the beliefs of others.”

The government is consulting the public to aid decision-making on the terms for the BBC Charter’s renewal and any changes needed to help the BBC to continue to serve the public.

This consultation closes on March 10.