Brian May criticizes the Countryside Alliance for condemning his documentary on badger culling, questioning the financial interests behind their opposition.
By Website Content Manager
Brian May has responded to complaints made to the BBC about his upcoming film on badger culling, which is set to air this week.
Brian May has strongly criticized The Countryside Alliance after they denounced his forthcoming BBC documentary, Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers And Me. The documentary, which May worked on for four years, delves into his efforts to combat bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a serious disease affecting cattle. May’s response follows a complaint made by the Alliance’s chief executive, Tim Bonner, who wrote to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, arguing that May’s documentary reflects “clearly partisan views” and is “fundamentally incompatible with the BBC’s obligation to be impartial,” according to The Daily Mail.
On Instagram, Brian May remarked, “It’s hardly surprising that the Countryside Alliance wants to prevent you from seeing our documentary—it’s the culmination of 12 years of research into the transmission of bovine TB. The Countryside Alliance’s agenda is to promote blood sports, as they represent hunters and shooters.”
May continued on Instagram, “The Countryside Alliance is composed of individuals who earn money by culling badgers in the Cull Zones, receiving substantial fees for each badger killed. It’s clear they have a financial stake in maintaining these culls. Approximately 230,000 badgers have been killed in the UK to date, raising questions about the financial interests involved.
“They also have a vested interest in preventing the eradication of TB, which is why it’s not surprising they’d want to prevent our film from being shown. I hope the BBC remains resolute. Our documentary is thorough and honest, and it’s important to me that it fairly represents the farmers’ situation.”
In a video, May added, “There are attempts to block the film’s release, particularly from the Countryside Alliance, who have complained to the Daily Mail, arguing that the film is unfair and biased, and that farmers should be given the opportunity to respond.”
May added, “What they probably don’t realize is that about 75% of this program features the farmers speaking. This is because the project is a genuine collaboration, and we’ve made considerable efforts to present all viewpoints fairly.”