Viewers urge for the BBC to be ‘protected’ after ‘outstanding’ coverage of the Queen’s funeral

BBC presenters like Huw Edwards as well as the corporation as a whole has been praised (Picture: BBC)

BBC viewers have urged for the broadcaster to be ‘protected’ after praising coverage of the Queen’s funeral today.

Huw Edwards led coverage today, with Kirsty Young, Fergal Keane, David Dimbleby, and Sophie Raworth were also on the bill to cover the historic event alongside him.

The monumental event, which is expected to become the most watched global broadcast in history with an approximate 4.1billion people tuning in, took place today following the Queen’s death at Balmoral on September 9 aged 96, after a reign of more than 70 years.

The BBC has been leading coverage since 6am today, and will continue throughout the day until late into the evening.

While those watching have joked that Edwards really needs a holiday, having broken the news of the Queen’s death 10 days ago, on a more serious note, others have shared how much the broadcaster needs protecting as it has really shown its value in coverage today.

The BBC has been amongst a number of broadcasters covering the funeral (Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, 8 September, aged 96 (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

‘The @BBC coverage of this is nothing short of outstanding. Huw Edwards’ commentary is weighted perfectly, the camera work outstanding. The BBC is precious and must be protected at all costs,’ one person wrote.

Another penned: ‘The video and sound from the BBC outside broadcast team, pooled and shown around the world across dozens of channels, has been outstanding. A gentle reminder of where the licence fee goes.’

This comes after plans for the BBC’s controversial licence fee to be scrapped.

Earlier this year, then-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries indicated at the groundbreaking plans for an overhaul after stating the next announcement about the fee would ‘be the last’. 

The BBC licence fee is an annual payment which is currently set at £159. It normally changes on April 1 each year but it is expected to freeze for two years until April 2024, at which point it’s speculated the fee will be axed.

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Several celebrities have slammed the licence fee freeze, with Channel 5 presenter Dan Walker sharing an image on Twitter of the different TV and radio channels aired on the channel, alongside the caption: ‘43p per day.’ 

In a later tweet, Walker, 44 clarified: ‘I am well aware that the BBC makes mistakes and needs to change, but the media landscape would be much poorer without it.

‘Those three letters are trusted and respected around the world.’ 

Former BBC star Dan Walker has defended the licence fee (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Gary Lineker has also voiced his thoughts around the controversial matter (Picture: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Former England football star Gary Lineker, who also presents the Beeb’s Match of the Day, retweeted an image from the BBC press office that shows the content viewers get when they pay the licence fee.

The 61-year-old later wrote sarcastically: ‘Yes the BBC brings you the best in news, in sport, in drama, in music, in children’s, in science, in history, in entertainment, in current affairs and Sir David bloody Attenborough….but apart from that what has the BBC ever done for us?’ 

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He then retweeted a video from the 1986 TV licence advert ‘what has the BBC ever done for us’, adding: ‘The BBC is revered, respected and envied around the world.

‘It should be the most treasured of national treasures. Something true patriots of our country should be proud of. It should never be a voice for those in Government, whoever is in power.’ 

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