2025 is off to a rocky start for British athletics fans! Why? Well, just one decision brought it all down. Keely Hodgkinson—who, let’s be honest, is practically a national treasure after winning gold in Paris and taking home the Sports Personality of the Year award in December—was gearing up to make a serious run at breaking the 800m world indoor record on February 15.
The 22-year-old was aiming to shatter a record that has stood since the very day she was born. Event organizers were expecting her attempt to be broadcast on BBC Two. But event organizers were expecting her attempt to be broadcast on BBC Two. But they did something that has left everyone scratching their heads. But what?
The BBC decided to snub her record chase in favor of… Flog It! Yes, you heard that right. Instead of broadcasting Hodgkinson’s potentially historic moment, BBC1 will be airing Final Score, and BBC2 will be showing Mr. Malcolm’s List—before, of course, switching to more Flog It! goodness. Oh, and this show ended in May 2020. The move has left both fans and athletic insiders shocked.
It’s a pretty pathetic decision from the BBC. This is someone who secured the Olympic 800m gold medal and then won BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
You’d like to think the BBC will reconsider putting Keely Hodgkinson’s WR race on either BBC1 or BBC2.
That’s where the big… https://t.co/9wDRHtqc6i
— Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) February 13, 2025
Some are pointing out that airing a quick clip of Keely Hodgkinson’s attempt at the start of Final Score could’ve attracted a ton of casual viewers, easily bringing in hundreds of thousands of eyes to the sport. And, let’s not forget that Hodgkinson is a massive star—last year, after her Olympic win, the BBC even boasted that her race was the most-watched event with 9.1 million viewers across BBC One and Player.
The BBC also aired most of the 14 Diamond League events last year. So, you’d think they’d want to give their golden girl a bit more spotlight, right? But no, the BBC has decided to put Hodgkinson’s world-record attempt on iPlayer instead of giving it the primetime treatment. Fans, understandably, are furious. Twitter’s been a warzone, with fans demanding apologies and accusing the national broadcaster of putting a Flog It!
BBC’s scheduling blunder leaves Keely Hodgkinson’s fans demanding answers
The frustration among fans is palpable after the BBC made the baffling decision to snub Keely Hodgkinson’s world record attempt in favor of reruns. One fan hit back, saying, “It’s a pretty pathetic decision from the BBC. This is someone who not only secured the Olympic 800m gold but also won BBC Sports Personality of the Year. You’d think they’d reconsider and air Keely’s world record attempt on BBC1 or BBC2—that’s where the big viewing figures come from.” Another fan didn’t hold back, adding, “Sports Personality of the Year, my foot. The BBC is terrible at covering any sport.”
The frustration only deepened when fans saw what the BBC had chosen instead. While Hodgkinson’s historic moment was being shoved to iPlayer, BBC1 will be airing Blue Planet II (the Green Seas episode, no less) before switching to Final Score, the football results program, at 4:30 PM. Meanwhile, BBC2 will show a repeat of the 2022 historical drama Mr. Malcolm’s List —an old episode of Flog It!
One fan slammed the decision, saying, “Shameful from the BBC.” Another chimed in with, “Shame on you, @BBC! Such little respect for women’s sports and one of our greatest athletes. How on earth can you justify a re-run of Flog It!?” And yet another added, “Not strange… disgraceful, @BBCSport! They must apologize.” It’s safe to say that the outrage has been loud, and fans are demanding answers.
This all comes after Hodgkinson, the Olympic 800m champion, announced that she’s targeting the long-standing world indoor 800m record of 1:55.82 on home soil at her own event, the Keely Klassic, in Birmingham on February 15. The athlete shared her intentions to participate in both the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing that would take place in March. Hodgkinson’s meteoric athletic growth is impossible to dismiss after she established a spot as the sixth-fastest 800m runner in world history through her 1:54.61 performance while triumphing in the 800m at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships.
But let’s not forget, that Keely Hodgkinson faced challenges before reaching this point. Her participation at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade became impossible because of a quad injury which made her sit out from both the indoor season 2022 and the World Championship in Glasgow. At the European Championships in Apeldoorn Hodgkinson returns for her unprecedented third consecutive victory in the 800m event. By winning the 800m race she will achieve a double will-breaking milestone by becoming the first athlete to win three consecutive titles at the competition. Despite achieving countless successes the BBC chooses to focus on antique collections instead of showcasing an athletic milestone.
One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “This is beyond neglect its a slap in the face. An apology is the bare minimum.” Another chimed in with, “BBC needs to own up man. This is no joke. How are dy ignoring Keely’s world record attempt for reruns?” While some speculate the BBC’s scheduling issues may be the reason—maybe Keely Hodgkinson’s announcement came too late for them to change things fans aren’t having it. Whatever the reason, the anger is real, and they want an apology, no excuses.
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