The BBC are facing backlash from their own World Cup pundits, with reports that they’ve been left ‘fuming’ by the broadcaster’s latest move. Eyebrows were raised after the BBC opted against sending their pundits out to North America for this summer’s tournament.
The BBC are expected to have crews on the ground in the United States when the knockouts roll around, but the move was dubbed a cost-cutting exercise and met with plenty of criticism. But it doesn’t look as if the complaints have stopped there, with the pundits themselves having booted off.
That’s according to The Sun, who report the pundits aren’t keen on the food offerings presented to them this summer. It claims the pundits are being asked to eat in their Salford canteen, instead of being treated to takeaway options from nearby restaurants.
An insider told the outlet: insider said: “The BBC on screen talent and production staff are really unhappy. Not only are they fed up with being stuck in Salford but they’re being given BBC canteen food and it’s not going down well.
“Normally on Match of the Day they get food brought in for them from one of the chain restaurants like Nando’s or Wagamama’s. But as part of making it a team first atmosphere in Salford – and to help cut costs – the on air stars are only getting BBC canteen food, along with the production staff. The food isn’t the best and there have been a lot of grumbles.”
While some have criticised the decision to keep the pundits at home, others have said it’s a wise move given the conversations surrounding the BBC’s expenditure. The Beeb’s director has claimed it’s a move that will end up saving the taxpayers millions of pounds.
Alex Kay-Jelski said: “To have what would probably be an extra couple of hundred people out there – and that’s before you build a studio – you’re talking millions. The actual end product people are getting at home, I don’t really think it’s that different.
“If I was standing here saying, ‘Everything is going to be done from a studio in Dallas’, you would rightly be saying to me, ‘How can you justify that spend?’ We’ve still got the people on the ground. You’ve got pundits.
“Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy are out there. Various commentators, journalists. I don’t think we’re going to have a problem bringing that feeling across. If these people were sitting somewhere else, would your viewing be massively changed?’ Right now I’m incredibly happy with it. It’s a six-week, high-profile tournament. We’re going to get some stuff wrong and we’re going to get, hopefully, way more right.”