BBC Bias Exposed: Formal Complaint Over Geeta Guru-Murthy’s Reaction to Christian Rapper’s Faith Declaration

The BBC, once considered a bastion of impartiality, faces fresh accusations of institutional bias against Christianity following a live interview on BBC News. Presenter Geeta Guru-Murthy has sparked outrage after viewers claimed she made a sharp inhalation or ‘hissing’ sound when 18-year-old Christian rapper DC3 (real name Daniel Chenjerai) named Jesus Christ as his greatest hero. This incident, broadcast around 17 January 2026, underscores deeper concerns about the corporation’s treatment of religious matters.

DC3, a Northampton-based artist nominated for two MOBO Awards (Best Newcomer and Best Gospel Act), was asked about his heroes. He listed rappers Santan Dave and Kendrick Lamar, before adding ‘most of all Jesus Christ’. Immediately after, Ms Guru-Murthy’s audible reaction—described by many as dismissive—preceded an abrupt shift to the next question. While she later explained it as simply taking a breath, the perception of disdain has offended many Christian viewers. Does she routinely take a sharp breath between segments? Obviously not, for it would be far below the standard for a professional live on air.

The young rapper shared the clip online, celebrating it as a bold profession of faith on national television. Yet, this positive moment was overshadowed by the presenter’s response, which risks breaching the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

Breaches of the Ofcom Code

This complaint alleges violations of:

• Section 2 (Harm and Offence): The reaction could reasonably offend those of Christian faith in a diverse society, failing to justify potentially offensive material in context.

• Section 5 (Due Impartiality): The BBC must handle religion without bias. The negative response to Jesus Christ, unlike the neutral treatment of secular figures, suggests prejudice.

Bishop Ceirion Dewar FSHC’s Reaction

On GB News, hosted by Mark Dolan, Bishop Dewar condemned the incident as a ‘shocking moment’ and ‘nasty’, insisting experienced broadcasters avoid such sounds. He rejected Ms Guru-Murthy’s excuse as ‘rocking horse manure’ and saw it as the ‘mask slipping’ on the BBC’s anti-Christian bias.

He branded the BBC the ‘biased broadcasting corporation’ or ‘bigger and better cockups’, highlighting its ‘immense issue’ with Christianity—worse than anti-Semitism—and blamed ‘ultra liberals’ and ‘Christophobic’ leadership. Since the 1990s, he argued, the BBC has shifted to anti-Christian and anti-Western ideologies, evidenced by relegating Christian services to lesser channels, shortening broadcasts, and prioritising multicultural agendas that sideline traditional Christian values.

Bishop Dewar noted practising Christians are often labelled ‘far-right’, citing hit pieces on himself as ‘Britain’s first far-right bishop’ for gospel proclamation and policy criticism. He praised DC3’s boldness, contrasting it with the presenter’s disdain.

A Pattern of Systemic Bias

This is no isolated event. Historical incidents include:

• In 2010, Cardinal Keith O’Brien accused the BBC of ‘institutional bias’ against Christianity, with senior figures admitting a ‘radically secular’ and ‘socially liberal’ mindset.12

• In 2006, BBC drama Spooks depicted evangelical Christians as violent extremists (e.g., murdering Muslims), inciting hatred claims from the Evangelical Alliance and Christian Voice.34

• In 2005, Jerry Springer: The Opera aired with blasphemous Christian depictions, drawing over 55,000 complaints—the highest ever for UK TV.56

• Ongoing issues: Under-reporting Christian persecution in Nigeria; cuts to traditional broadcasts like the 2024 King’s College Cambridge Easter service; stereotyping Christians in soaps as ‘mad fundamentalists’. Former staff like Peter Sissons described Christians as ‘fair game’. Surveys show fewer Christians at the BBC than in the population.78

These patterns demand scrutiny. As a concerned British Citizen and Tax Payer, I have submitted this complaint to the BBC, urging investigation. If unresolved, it will escalate to Ofcom.

For change in Britain, we must challenge such bias.

Visit www.leadershipinternational.org for more on ethical leadership.

Footnotes

1. Daily Mail, “BBC news presenter Geeta Guru-Murthy is accused of ‘hissing’ when Christian rapper DC3 tells her his biggest hero is Jesus Christ,” 17 January 2026. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15472439/BBC-news-Geeta-Guru-Murthy-hisses-DC3-Jesus-Christ.html ↩︎

2. Express.co.uk, “BBC star breaks silence after being accused of ‘hissing’ at Jesus Christ supporter,” 17 January 2026. https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2159093/bbc-presenter-breaks-silence-jesus-christ-hiss ↩︎

3. GB News, “BBC News presenter under fire as viewers accuse host of ‘hissing’ over rapper’s Jesus Christ comment,” 17 January 2026. https://www.gbnews.com/celebrity/bbc-news-geeta-guru-murthy-jesus-christ-comment ↩︎

4. BBC News, “Cardinal: BBC biased against Christianity,” 5 September 2010. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-11191992 ↩︎

5. The Telegraph, “Catholic church accuses BBC of ‘anti-Christian’ bias,” 5 September 2010. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/7982601/Catholic-church-accuses-BBC-of-anti-Christian-bias.html ↩︎

6. Daily Mail, “Christian groups accuse BBC drama of inciting anti-Christian bias,” 1 November 2006. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-413730/Christian-groups-accuse-BBC-drama-inciting-anti-Christian-bias.html ↩︎

7. London Evening Standard, “Christian groups accuse BBC drama of inciting anti-Christian bias,” 12 April 2012 (referencing 2006 episode). https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/christian-groups-accuse-bbc-drama-of-inciting-antichristian-bias-7243600.html ↩︎

8. Wikipedia, “Jerry Springer: The Opera” (detailing 2005 BBC broadcast and complaints). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer:_The_Opera ↩︎

9. The Guardian, “16,000 complaints, but Springer opera did not break TV rules,” 10 May 2005. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/may/10/media.bbc ↩︎

10. Premier Christianity, “Christians have been warning about this for decades. Now finally the BBC has been caught red-handed,” 11 November 2025. https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/christians-have-been-warning-about-this-for-decades-now-finally-the-bbc-has-been-caught-red-handed/20460.article ↩︎

11. Daily Mail, “Christians a minority at ‘biased’ BBC where staff are more likely to be atheists or non-believers,” 3 December 2011. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069649/Christians-minority-biased-BBC.html ↩︎