BBC presenter Evan Davis is said to be unable to host a podcast on heat pumps due to corporate concerns that technology is at risk of “treading the realm of public controversy.”
The presenter of the PM program for BBC Radio 4 held 20 episodes of the Happy Heat Pump Podcast, which was released in 2024. It covers issues regarding the technology, cost, noise levels and installation of alternatives for those replacing gasoline boilers.
However, despite initially being given approval to proceed with the non-BBC project, the boss told Davis that the podcast risks exposing him to accusations of political bias.
“As the series progressed, I was worried that, in fact, the world has progressed over the past few months, that I could interpret this kind of attempt to inform heat pumps as somehow stomping the realm of public controversy.”
“I take their shillings and they direct the rules. They have to keep the presenters out of the realm of national controversy. They decided that the heat pump could be controversial, so they asked me not to get involved.”
The extensive installation of heat pumps is considered necessary to achieve the government’s goal of attacking net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Last month, conservative leader Kemibedenok removed the party’s support for the target. Davis said he believes the decision to stop appearing on the podcast was filmed for the link between the heat pump and the zero target.
Bean Beanland, director of the Heat Pump Federation and co-presenter of the podcast’s Davis, described the decision as “very extraordinary.” “We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Douglas Parr, director of policy at Greenpeace UK. “As a fair broadcaster, the BBC should not try to try from the right to turn the most efficient home heating system in the world into a culture war issue.
Davis said he “no paying at all” for the podcast, and personally paid personal costs for music, widespread and microphone equipment. He said there was no link to HPF except for the fact that he hired his co-host.
However, he defended the broadcaster. “It’s easy to be furious about the BBC and things like this, but of course I would oppose it in this case, but there was no burden to actually have to run the BBC and make 100 decisions a day.
“If you don’t like the restrictions that come with working here, you can clearly leave at will, but it’s a great institution, the PM program is in excellent form and they pay me brilliantly.”
The BBC has been criticised for handling environmental issues. In 2018, the station admitted that it would stop the climate crisis from being stopped on “both sides,” and that it received “false” reports by setting up discussions with people who deny climate science.
However, recently, broadcasters have given platforms to those seeking less action against climate collapse. Producers also accused the BBC of shelving the 2023 political programme by Sir David Attenborough, who linked the UK’s biodiversity loss to the climate crisis. The insider said this was because the theme of nature’s destruction would risk backlash from Tory politicians and right-wing press.
BBC Guidelines Employees should not compromise corporate fairness in external work. Sources said the BBC has made clear that climate change is taking place, but the response to it is a public policy issue. They added that Davis’ podcasts researched and promoted only one possible solution.
The BBC has previously been under pressure from the presenter’s external projects. Last year, broadcaster Clive Myrie apologised for not declaring at least £145,000 it earned from external events, and said it would stop them for a “foreseeable future.”
