Fans of the BBC have taken to social media to complain about coverage of the Pope’s funeral as they moan that the regularly scheduled Saturday programming has been interrupted
BBC viewers are furious at the channel’s coverage of Pope Francis’ funeral.
The historic ceremony to mark the passing of the religious leader is taking place today [26 April] and the BBC have replaced much of their regularly scheduled programming with coverage of the momentous occasion, which has been broadcast around the world.
However, some fans of the channel are not happy with the BBC’s decision to remove their favourite Saturday morning television shows and have taken to X/Twitter to kick up a fuss.
One angry critic typed: “WHY is there all this coverage regarding the late Pope? We are not ALL followers,” while another wrote: “Why are the BBC broadcasting the Pope’s funeral? The UK is not Roman Catholic. Who cares?”
Their question was met with the simple response of: “Millions of people?”
“Wake up, waiting to watch the news and…dominated by the popes funeral, even on the BBC main news side. I just want to watch the news, not the darn funeral,” fumed another furious viewer.
“Frankly, I don’t get why in a non Catholic country we need to spend all day watching the popes funeral […] should be on BBC News channel not BBC One or Two,” said one angry TV lover.
Someone else tagged the official BBC X/Twitter account and asked: “Is there really any need to have the pope’s funeral on four BBC channels?”
However, many people also flocked to defend the coverage and assured critics that they “are not being forced to watch” and explained that that they can “switch over” if they so desire.
One person savagely tweeted: “It is without doubt a very important news story and event and means a lot to some people. I, like you, won’t be watching but to think the BBC should prioritise Saturday Kitchen or Bargain Hunt is just silly. Watch something else or, heaven forbid, go outside.”
Pope Francis died at the age of 88-years-old on Monday 21 April and since Wednesday, an incredible 130,000 people filtered past his coffin to pay their respects.
The Pope will be buried in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc as he was clear about breaking traditions.
Papal funerals have previously used three coffins, with the Pope laid to rest in a coffin of cypress wood, then lead, then oak. However, Pope Francis was eager to be “laid out and buried like any son or daughter of the church”.
“With dignity, but not on cushions. In my opinion, the ritual was too ornate,” he once said.
Pope Francis’ place of burial will also break tradition, with his final resting place in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome’s Esquilino neighbourhood, not even in the Vatican.
Previous Popes are all buried in a grotto under St Peter’s Basilica.
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