BBC Question Time: Audience backlash as guest panel branded 'unrepresentative'
'The BBC needs to do better,' says one viewer
The BBC has been criticized for the lack of diversity on its Question Time panel.
The program, which airs weekly on BBC One, features a panel of guests from the worlds of politics and the media who answer questions posed by members of the audience. However, viewers have complained that the panel is often not representative of the UK population.
A recent study by the University of Leeds found that only 13% of Question Time guests in 2019 were women, and only 5% were from ethnic minorities. This is in contrast to the UK population, which is 51% female and 13% from ethnic minorities.
The BBC has defended its record on diversity, saying that it is committed to "reflecting the diversity of the UK population." However, critics argue that the BBC is not doing enough to ensure that its panel is representative.
"The BBC needs to do better," said one viewer. "It's not good enough for the panel to be dominated by white men. The BBC needs to make sure that it is representing all parts of society."
The BBC has said that it is "always looking at ways to improve the diversity of our panel." However, it is unclear whether the BBC will make any changes to its current selection process.
You can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #bbcqt or #bbcquestiontime on Twitter.
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