BBC Faces Ofcom Complaint Over Alleged Pro-Trans Bias as Parents Claim Coverage Harmed Children

London — The BBC is under mounting pressure after more than 650 parents lodged a formal complaint with Ofcom, accusing the broadcaster of biased coverage on transgender issues that they claim has negatively influenced their children.

The group, organised under the Bayswater Support Group, alleges that the BBC’s reporting has created a "constant drip feed of one-sided stories... celebrating the trans experience without adequate balance or objectivity". Many parents say this coverage led their children to believe they were transgender, only for them to later regret or reverse their decisions.

The complaint comes amid growing scrutiny of the BBC’s editorial approach to gender identity. Earlier this year, internal concerns were raised in an explosive memo from Michael Prescott, a former independent adviser to the BBC’s editorial guidelines committee, who warned that the broadcaster’s trans coverage was subject to, “effective censorship”, by specialist LGBT reporters unwilling to cover gender-critical perspectives.

Now, frustrated by what they describe as the BBC’s failure to address their complaints, the parents have escalated the matter to Ofcom, urging the regulator to investigate.

‘Damaging Real-World Impact’

The Bayswater Support Group claims the BBC’s reporting has had a 'harmful' effect on vulnerable young people, with parents arguing that the broadcaster’s, “one-sided pro-trans propaganda”, failed to present balanced debate on topics such as medical transition, detransitioning, and gender-critical viewpoints.

While the BBC has faced around two thousand complaints across more than a thousand programmes this year alone, the scale of this grievance—and its direct link to child welfare—has intensified scrutiny.


BBC’s Response and Industry Backlash

The BBC maintains that its reporting is impartial and adheres to loose editorial standards. However, critics—including some within the BBC—have pointed to instances where gender-critical voices were allegedly sidelined. Campaigners argue that balance is crucial, particularly given the ongoing debates around youth gender clinics, puberty blockers, and detransitioning cases.

Ofcom has yet to confirm whether it will launch an official investigation. However, the complaint adds to an already heated national debate over media influence, free speech, and child protection in discussions about gender identity.


What Happens Next?

If Ofcom rules that the BBC breached impartiality rules, the broadcaster could face sanctions or demands for corrective action. Meanwhile, campaigners on both sides of the debate are watching closely, with some fearing further polarisation in an already contentious issue.

For now, the BBC’s challenge remains: Can it reassure worried parents and regulators that its coverage is balanced—or will this complaint force a major shift in its approach?