BBC receives relatively few complaints over coverage of Queen’s death

theguardian.com:

The BBC’s wall-to-wall coverage of the Queen’s death has avoided the mass of complaints that accompanied its output when Prince Philip died, although broadcasters are edging back towards normal schedules as viewing figures start to dip.

Internal BBC complaints data show it received about 670 objections from people who felt last Thursday’s coverage of the Queen’s death was excessive, compared with the 100,000 who objected to its output to mark her husband dying. Sources suggested the number had increased in recent days but remained relatively low, with a formal tally due to be published later this week.

Instead, other small aspects of the BBC’s coverage have attracted the attention of the public. More than 100 people complained that two journalists in the newsroom could be seen standing behind Huw Edwards as the presenter announced the death of the monarch on Thursday night.

One viewer said: “It was beyond offensive to see two young women in the BBC newsroom standing up and filming Huw Edwards on their phones while he made the momentous announcement of the death of the Queen … what sort of disrespect and immature stupidity do you cultivate in the newsroom.”

And in a reversal of the complaints the BBC received when the former newsreader Peter Sissons announced the death of the Queen Mother wearing a burgundy tie, this time around some of the complaints were about Edwards wearing a black tie for several hours before the monarch’s death was officially announced.

Viewing figures have started to fall from the enormous numbers tuning in for last week’s announcement of the death. That attracted a combined television audience of 16 million – the vast majority watching the BBC. By comparison, the BBC One audience for the formal