The BBC is in crisis – and can't stop scoring own goals

From Glasto to ‘MasterChef’ to splits with Gary Lineker and Nadiya Hussain, the Beeb has been embroiled in a succession of scandals. And it can only blame itself, writes Fiona Sturges

- Fiona Sturges

The BBC is in a British Broadcasting Crisis. The UK's public broadcaster has had a bruising few years, which have escalated, over the last few weeks, into seemingly nonstop scandal. It's been lambasted by the political left and right alike, prompting calls for resignations from senior management, including that of the director general. And it has only itself to blame.

In late June, there was uproar over the BBC’s livestreaming of the Glastonbury set by punk duo Bob Vylan, who led a chant against the Israeli military. Then there was the bungling of its response - apologies, condemnations, hasty changes to protocol. One Gaza documentary was found to have breached editorial guidelines, with another, about doctors in Gaza, being pulled from transmission.

Alongside this, there is the endlessly unfurling debacle that is MasterChef, which has culminated in both its presenters being fired - first Gregg Wallace, who is accused of unwanted groping, indecent exposure and suggestive comments towards his coworkers, and then, yesterday, his co-host John Torode, following an allegation that he used racist language.

Given the horror stories that have emerged from the set of MasterChef, it’s clear that both Wallace and Torode had to go. Less fathomable is the thought process behind the Beeb’s axing of Nadiya Hussain, who this week upbraided her former employer in a podcast interview. Hussain won The Great British Bake Off as an amateur baker in 2015, delivering an emotional speech that was watched by 14.5 million on the BBC.