BBC had two million fewer viewers in its general election coverage compared to 2019, and some viewers think they know why.
The number drop means that the corporation had a third fewer viewers tuning in to see their specialised programming that followed the political events unfolding.
BBC was still the most-watched channel with 4.2 million viewers tuning in between 10pm and 11pm on July 4, but their drop was sizable when compared to 6.1 million in the last general election.
The Labour win was watched by a combined 7.3 million viewers across all channels, which was three million less than 2019 showing that the decline could also be down to a larger change in audience habits.
Five years ago, it was Huw Edwards at the helm, but last week, it was Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie sharing the responsibility.
They were joined by political editor Chris Mason and had reporters including Fiona Bruce, Victoria Derbyshire, and Naga Munchetty stationed around the country. While Jeremy Vine was in the studio running through statistics.
Over their 20 hours of live broadcasting, viewers also became frustrated when key moments were ‘missed’, and not everyone approved of the presenter choices with some people deciphering that the drop in viewing figures could be down to that.
Before, the show even came onto air some people shared their intention to boycott the coverage as they felt Kuenssberg wasn’t ‘impartial’.
Bob Mitchell wrote on X: ‘I was one of those viewers who switched the BBC election coverage off & it was definitely not because of Clive Myrie.
‘The BBC are seriously going to have to look at replacing Kuenssberg, her political allegiance is blatantly obvious & what she said to Ed Davey was unacceptable.’
On her Sunday politics show Kuennsberg, 47, introduced the Liberal Democrats leader by saying: ‘Ed Davey, congratulations, I suppose, on your more than 70 seats.’
Many people who caught the interview were unhappy with her use of the words ‘I suppose’, including Carol Vorderman, who suggested BBC journalist Victoria Derbyshire should replace her.
‘Time for #bbclaurak to become #bbcVictoriaD don’t you think? @vicderbyshire Quite extraordinary,’ Vorderman posted on X.
‘Vic D is exceptional and gives them all a hard time if that is what’s needed. She knows her detail and cuts through with any bias. BBC is lucky to have her.’
‘Even with Channel 4’s inexplicable panel choice -Nadine Dorries, cough – it was infinitely better than listening to Kuenssberg. Even Clive Myrie didn’t cut the toxicity if her sycophantic coverage,’ added Lesley Smith of the general election night coverage.
‘@BBCNews you finally have a good reason to fire her for cause. Unbalanced coverage.’
‘Watching a bit of the election coverage. Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie are poles apart. Could listen to Clive all night but Kuenssberg speaks to everyone with contempt,’ Chris Curtis concluded.
‘I would have stuck with the Beeb if it had been just Clive. But I am struggling to bear Laura these days. Sorry, but she just comes across as biased – putting the knife in to non-Cons, especially labour. She even made a barbed comment to lovely Ed Davey after their huge success,’ said Sue Priest. While Matt Page hopes that the ratings send BBC a ‘clear message’.
Meanwhile David Todd wrote: ‘I like both Clive Myrie and Laura K but their election night gig was not great. It started off talking about nothing and then it missed half the results.’
The overnight coverage was repeatedly slammed for not showing enough of the results in the 650 constituencies, including when the first senior Tory – former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland – was beaten by a Labour candidate Heidi Alexander.
When the result came in, Wales correspondent Hywel Griffith was talking, before Myrie eventually cut him off. However, by the time they were in Swindon, Alexander was already giving their victory speech.
‘The BBC didn’t even cover the count from *Swindon South*, the first marginal to declare!’ noted Stephen Bush.
‘Felt like we’ve reached a level of parody that the BBC’s political coverage on TV cannot stop being obsessed with the next election even *during* the election.’
He continued: ‘The BBC should always have the best election night telly because they have more resource and therefore more eyes at counts. The first-ever Green gain from the Tories *wasn’t on telly*. Mad!’
Green party councillor Nate Higgins has submitted a complaint to the BBC after their major wins including Adrian Ramsay, winning Waveney Valley in Suffolk from the Conservatives, were not shown.
‘During the coverage of the General Election, the BBC broadcast live the declarations of the leaders of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK parties, and their speeches. Additionally, the win in Bristol Central was simply announced as “The Green Party have won Bristol Central. Now let’s go to Iain Duncan Smith”,’ he wrote.
In the correspondence, which he shared publicly on X, he added: ‘This had the impact of scaling down the scale and impact of Green wins, and meant there was less air time for Green politicians.’
Others felt that there was too much commentary about trends and not live results. ‘The BBC were appalling. I get that the first hour of two has to be chat and filler, but they continued on…’ said Jimmy M.
Lee Taylor remarked: ‘It’s like taking the goals out of football coverage.’
The BBC coverage continued through the night and through to the next day, as votes continued to be counted and the results were confirmed. The broadcaster averaged at 2.9 million (37% share), with 11.9 million tuning in for at least 3 minutes up to 2am. Their statistics also found that 80% of UK adults went to BBC for the election results.
ITV1 was its next closest competitor with 836,000 turning in (10.7%). Tom Bradby, who also anchored election nights in 2015, 2017 and 2019, once again led ITV’s evening and early morning coverage. ITV lost 1 million viewers for the 10pm hour for exit poll results from their 2.3 million in 2019.
Following them was Channel 4 (664,000, 8.5%), which went down a different route with its coverage, and was able to double its ratings and experience a peak of 1.1 million.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis hosted Britain Decides with The Rest is Politics and Gogglebox as part of the alternative and more lively coverage. Podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart provided commentary throughout, while our favourite sofa critics also jumped in with their immediate reactions. Guests including former Tory MP Nadine Dorries and Vorderman also popped in during the episode.
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Making up other chunks of the audience were Sky News (372,000, 4.8%), BBC News (231,000, 2.9%), and GB News (86,000, 1.1%).
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