Muslim heads up BBC’s religious TV output

The BBC has attracted controversy by giving a Muslim the job of head of religious programming. It is the second time in the BBC’s history that a non-Christian has been appointed to the post, but Aaqil Ahmed will be the first Islamic believer to take up the role. The other previous non-Christian was an agnostic, and was also a recent appointment – Alan Bookbinder in 2001. The decision comes despite the Archbishop of Canterbury voicing his concerns about the sidelining of Christian programming to the BBC’s director general last month. Ahmed is a former Channel 4 executive. Meanwhile, the BBC has appointed a Methodist local preacher, Christine Morgan, as the new separate head of religion on radio.

Sources: The Guardian (11/5); Methodist Recorder (14/5); Daily Mail (13/5);