Entertainment
BBC takes down online complaints form about ‘too much’ Prince Philip coverage after Duke of Edinburgh’s death aged 99
The BBC has taken down an online complaints form that it created after members of the public complained about the amount of coverage dedicated to Prince Philip following the news of his death.
On Friday April 9, it was announced by the royal family that the Queen’s husband the Duke of Edinburgh had died at the age of 99 at Windsor Castle.
Following the announcement, the BBC suspended previously scheduled programming for the day, with shows including The One Show being cancelled and the final of MasterChef being postponed.
On Friday evening, the broadcaster created a complaints form on its website specifically concerning ‘too much Prince Philip coverage’ after the decision to clear its schedule appeared to displease many viewers.
However, the form has since been taken down, with the link now directing to a page that reads: ‘Sorry, this page isn’t available.’
The link for the complaints form previously directed people to a page with the message: ‘We’re receiving complaints about too much TV coverage of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
‘Please enter your email address below to register a complaint about this – we’ll then send you the BBC’s response as soon as it is available.’
In addition to the BBC’s schedule being cleared for the day for special coverage in the wake of Prince Philip’s death, ITV also aired special programmes in his honour.
While Channel 4 aired a news report, an obituary and a 90-minute news special later in the evening, the channel also resumed its normal schedule, with programmes including Gogglebox and the final of The Circle going ahead as planned.
Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs and sport at Channel 4, wrote in a tweet that in addition to the special programmes on Prince Philip, the channel ‘also has a duty to offer an alternative to other channels hence a return to schedule’.
In a statement sent to Metro.co.uk, a spokesperson for Channel 4 explained its decision to continue its schedule, stating: ‘Like many people around the UK and the world we were saddened to hear of the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip.
‘We moved swiftly to a live news special as the news was announced earlier today; we broadcast a special programme looking back at the life of the Duke of Edinburgh at 4pm this afternoon; and we will broadcast a 90-minute extended Channel 4 News special from 7pm this evening.
‘We will also be airing a number of documentaries about the life of Prince Philip and extended news bulletins over the weekend.
‘As an alternative public service broadcaster Channel 4 also has a duty to offer an alternative to others and, whilst we have marked this sad news appropriately in our schedules and on All 4, we will also continue to offer viewers the majority of our usual peak time schedule including Gogglebox and The Circle tonight.’
On the second night of the Baftas, presenters Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to Prince Philip, who was the first ever president of Bafta from 1959 to 1965.
Prince William, the current president of Bafta, was due to appear at the awards ceremony, before withdrawing following the death of his grandfather.
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