The BBC has issued an apology over its coverage of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Today (January 27) marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.
During the broadcaster’s Today programme, Caroline Nicholls delivered a news bulletin, in which she discussed plans to mark the occasion.
She said: “Buildings across the UK will be illuminated this evening to mark Holocaust Memorial Day to commemorate the six million people murdered by the Nazi regime more than 80 years ago.
“The King and Queen will host a reception for Holocaust survivors and their families. Organisers say that at a time of rising anti-Semitism, this is a moment to stand together.”
Many listeners were outraged by the coverage, demanding an explanation for why the Jewish community was not mentioned explicitly, given that approximately six million Jews were killed.
The BBC has landed itself in antisemitism row
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In a statement, the broadcaster said: “This morning’s BBC programming commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. The Today programme featured interviews with relatives of Holocaust survivors, and a report from our Religion Editor. In both of these items we referenced the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. The Chief Rabbi recorded the Thought for the Day.
“BBC Breakfast featured a project organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust in which a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust recorded her memories.
“In the news bulletins on Today and in the introduction to the story on BBC Breakfast there were references to Holocaust Memorial Day which were incorrectly worded, and for which we apologise. Both should have referred to ‘six million Jewish people’ and we will be issuing a correction on our website.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism posted on X earlier today: “Even on Holocaust Memorial Day, the BBC cannot bring itself to properly address antisemitism.
“It is no wonder that an overwhelming 92 per cent of British Jews rate the BBC’s coverage of matters of Jewish interest as unfavourable.
“This is absolutely disgraceful broadcasting. @BBC, we demand an explanation for how this could have happened.”
Historians confirmed approximately six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime between 1941 and 1945.
The genocide was almost two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population.
Jewish people are increasingly changing their behaviour and hiding religious symbols to feel safe | PA
Over 13million people were victims of Nazi persecution overall.
The BBC has faced a number of controversies over antisemitism in recent years, particularly in relation to its Middle East coverage.
These have included criticism over Panorama programmes, complaints about antisemitic content aired on BBC Arabic, and disputes over language and framing in reports on Israel and Gaza.
Jewish organisations and MPs have repeatedly accused the broadcaster of bias or insensitivity, while the BBC has said it takes such concerns seriously and has pointed to internal reviews and regulatory oversight.
The recurring nature of the rows has kept the issue under persistent public scrutiny.
