Complain to OFCOM

twocandles:

Ofcom

is the communications/broadcasting regulator responsible for all TV and radio programmes in the UK. Since the BBC isn’t taking our complaints seriously let’s go a step higher.

They ask to submit a complaint within 20 working days of the broadcast of the programme so there’s still a bit of time, even though it’s not much. However, even if you’re hitting it close in a week or so: Tell them that you’ve sent a complaint to the BBC and you only received the reply very recently (or that you’re still waiting) AND let them know that the way the BBC has handled this so far has not been satisfying in the least and that’s why you’re taking this issue to Ofcom in the first place. 

The BBC flat-out refuses to acknowledge the accusations of queerbaiting and actually shot us down with their “Sherlock and John have never shown any romantic or sexual interest in each other” comment. They also refuse to acknowledge and address any of the other issues that have been brought up in the complaints so far:

• increase in violence, yet never acknowledging it as domestic abuse
• queercoding villains as sexual predators
• awful portrayal of women 
• misrepresentation of mental illness
• bad writing, drop in quality
• the fact that the BBC released misleading promo material (”I love you” trailer, “Sherlock’s back & he’s in love” BBC iplayer tweet) that made them directly complicit in the queerbaiting
• this is a non-exhaustive list, I’m sure you have more ideas

They ask you to: 

Please note the complaint is your sole chance to set out your case to Ofcom. Therefore, please provide us with full details of how you believe the programme was unfair to you and/or how it unwarrantably infringed your privacy. Your complaint should include relevant examples of how and why unfairness/infringement of privacy was caused to you.

Unfortunately there’s a stupid word limit so try and be as short and precise as possible. 

Read more as to how Ofcom handles complaints here.

Important:
DO NOT publish the complaint you’re sending to OFCOM. Once you send it you agree to their non disclosure agreement which means as long as they’re investigating the case no details (”correspondence, documents and other material concerning the complaint”) can be released to the public. It is ok to say that you have sent a complaint though. [x]

Results of the investigations will be published here and there’s an overview with numbers of complaints here.

The Broadcasting Code, in case you’re interested. Our issues probably belong to section 2: Harm and offence. 

Now it would make most sense if people who live in the UK could send a complaint. You have to enter your address details. (Not sure how they deal with international complaints, if anyone could shed a light that would be marvellous!) Maybe some people could try it anyway?

Make your complaint!

Tagging some folks:

@cupidford @hotsmugstache @welovethebeekeeper @jenna221b @victorianlovers @miadifferent @inevitably-johnlocked @bug-catcher-in-viridian-forest @weeesi @serpentinasnape

Please signal boost this!

I am not an expert, I just tried to compile this as a basic source of information. If something is completely wrong let me know and I’ll change it.