BBC 'would never have approved the Harry & Meghan show' says Clare Sillery

Clare Sillery, the person responsible for commissioning documentary content at the BBC suggested that the BBC would not have broadcast the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, "Harry & Meghan," because doing so would have meant relinquishing editorial control, which goes against the expectations of the BBC's audience. Sillery emphasized that as a public broadcaster, the BBC is expected to maintain certain editorial standards. She acknowledged that individuals can have control over their own narratives in the online world, but documentary commissioning is a matter of trust and meeting audience expectations.

Clare Sillery is responsible for commissioning documentary content at the BBC

The "Harry & Meghan" series, which aired in December, was produced by the couple's own production company, Archewell Productions, as part of their reported £100 million deal with Netflix. The documentary covered the couple's relationship, from their early courtship to their decision to step back from their roles as working members of the royal family. The series aimed to present their story directly to viewers, with Meghan addressing the camera and questioning whether it made more sense to hear their narrative from them.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had editorial control over Netflix documentary

While the documentary received negative reviews from some UK publications, its director, Liz Garbus, defended the series, stating that there was overwhelming public interest in the couple. She argued that people were happy to read about Harry and Meghan when others wrote about them but criticized them for telling their story in their own words. Garbus emphasized that watching the documentary was a personal choice and not a requirement.