In this episode, we celebrate the return of cinema in England, Scotland & Wales and discuss all the latest family-friendly releases that are coming to the big screen including Cruella, Peter Rabbit 2, Godzilla Vs. Kong and Nomadland.

BBFC Podcast Episode 107 - Welcome Back to the Movies

In this episode of the BBFC podcast James Blatch looks at recent releases and lesser known classification issues.

BBFC Podcast Episode 14: Unusual Age Rating Issues

In this episode, we speak to director Prano Bailey-Bond about her debut feature film Censor, its inspiration & the 'video nasties' era.

Listeners can find out insider knowledge about Prano and her co-writer Anthony Fletcher’s research visits to the BBFC, the film's classification and the horror directors that inspired her.

BBFC Podcast Episode 108 - In Conversation With Prano Bailey-Bond

In this episode, our Compliance Managers alongside special guest Lord Kamlesh Patel, BBFC Vice President, take a deep dive into our latest research findings on racism and discrimination, and talk about the tangible changes we are taking when it comes to classifying these issues in both older and modern content.

BBFC Podcast Episode 109 - Discrimination Research 2021

Due to the themes covered in this podcast, we do not recommend this episode to listeners under the age of 15.

In our final podcast of 2013, we discuss classifying anime and interview BBFC Director David Cooke about key film classification decisions from 2013.

BBFC Podcast Episode 17 - Classifying Anime

In this episode, we talk about the shifting tone of superhero films and shine a light on the darker side of the Marvel, Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel and DC Comics universes. We'll be discussing recent releases such as The Batman, Morbius and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness and how we classified them.

Please be advised that this episode may contain spoilers.

BBFC Podcast Episode 110 - Dark Superhero Films

In this episode, we speak to Col Needham, the CEO of IMDb, about the origins and evolution of the much-loved Internet Movie Database website, most commonly known as IMDb.

BBFC Podcast Episode 111 - In Conversation With Col Needham From IMDb

In this episode, our BBFC Youth Panel chat about scary movie moments that frightened them the most when they were young.

From Toy Story 3 to Coraline, find out what family films from the noughties kept Gen Z up at night.

BBFC Podcast Episode 112 - BBFC Youth Panel's Haunted Halloween Takeover

Comedian Henning Wehn discusses poll results and new BBFC ratings’ feature in an exclusive podcast takeover episode.

BBFC Podcast Episode 113 - Henning Wehn & David Austin

This episode is the second in our ongoing BBFC history series and takes a look at the short but tumultuous period of BBFC Secretary Stephen Murphy, from July 1971 until he resigned in 1975.

BBFC Podcast 24 - BBFC Directors Part II – Stephen Murphy

The latest episode of the BBFC Podcast is out now, and this time with a special takeover episode from our brilliant Youth Panel!

In episode one of this two-part mini-series, our Youth Panel dives into some classic coming-of-age films through the decades, and how they feel about them now. We're talking Mean Girls, Ferris Buller's Day Off, Grease, Clueless and more.

BBFC Youth Panel Takeover - Episode One

A brand new episode of the BBFC Podcast is out today and it is another special Youth Panel takeover!

In the final episode of our two-part mini-series, our Youth Panel explore some classic coming-of-age films that shaped their growing up experience. Some of these include Billy Elliot, She's the Man, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and more.

BBFC Youth Panel Takeover - Episode Two

Hear directly from two members of our Compliance team, Chris and Wallis, as they chat about how we undertook our biggest research project to date.

In this special episode, the pair dive into how our research findings have directly shaped our new guidelines, with key discussion areas including violence, sex, drugs, and language, alongside an overview of what these changes mean for the future of content classification and UK audiences.

BBFC Podcast episode 116 - Our new Classification Guidelines. Shaped by you.

In this episode we discuss the classification history of the 1979 science fiction drama Alien.

BBFC Podcast Episode 36 - Alien (1979)

In this episode we discuss the classification history of Steven Spielberg's blockbuster film Jaws (1975).

BBFC Podcast Episode 38 - Jaws

In this episode we discuss the classification history of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), which stars the late Gunnar Hansen (March 4, 1947 – November 7, 2015), well known for his role as Leatherface in the film.

BBFC Podcast Episode 40 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

In this episode we discuss age rating Doctor Who and in particular why some episodes are rated PG while others are more suitable at the 12 rating.

BBFC Podcast Episode 71 - Doctor Who

In this episode we look at how films are re-rated when they're sent in to the BBFC for a second time.  We also speak about Heathers the 1988 Michael Lehmann film.

BBFC Podcast Episode 86 - Reclassification

In this episode we discuss the classification of John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic, Halloween. As well as comparing the original to the classification of the newest Halloween directed by David Gordon Green, released in 2018. And as a treat (rather than a trick!), Billie also asks her guest what he will be watching this Halloween.  

Sound effects courtesy of Mike Koenig, Timothy and Saraspella www.soundbible.com

BBFC Podcast Episode 87 - Halloween

Welcome to the first episode of the BBFC Podcast where host James Blatch discusses the ’12A’ classification; why H stood for Horror in the 1930s and 40s; and the classification issues in recent releases Drive, The Change Up and 50/50.

BBFC Podcast Episode 1 - 12A

In this episode of the BBFC podcast, BBFC Examiners James Blatch and Caitlin O’Brien discuss classifying violence in films, and talk to BBFC Director David Cooke about The Human Centipede 2 Full Sequence.

BBFC Podcast Episode 2 - Violence

Tune into the latest episode of the BBFC podcast where we talk about the latest film and BBFC news, as well as classifying sex and sex references, across the age categories.

BBFC Podcast Episode 3 - Sex

Listen to episode 4 of the BBFC podcast where we talk about the latest films, BBFC education work, and how the BBFC classifies horror across the age categories.

BBFC Podcast Episode 4 - Horror

In this episode of the BBFC podcast we mark the 50th anniversary of James Bond by delving into the files of some of the Bond films submitted to the BBFC over the years. We also speak to Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of the Mother’s Union, about the findings and recommendations in his report Letting Children be Children, and how these are being put into action.

BBFC Podcast Episode 8 - James Bond

“The 12 was introduced, on film only, in 1989 to cover the large gulf between PG and 15.”

Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985) and Ghostbusters (1984) all have something in common, and it isn’t that they all start with G. All of these films were rated 12 or 12A. In this podcast, we discuss both categories and the wide range of audience they capture discussing classification issues such as discrimination, humour and threat.

BBFC Podcast Episode 97 - 12A/12

“The 18 replaced the X in 1982, which in turn absorbed the H which stood for ‘horrific’ in 1951.”

In the last episode of our mini series, we look at the history of the 18 category and its key classification issues. From ‘H’ films being restricted during WW2 to the 18 as it is today.

BBFC Podcast Episode 99 - 18

“The U category is the only classification to survive from the inception of the BBFC to now.”

In the first of our mini series, we discuss the U category, how it has changed over the years and how we address historically classified U films such as Watership Down (1978) and Disney classics such as The Lion King (1994).

BBFC Podcast Episode 95 - U

“More films are rated 15 today than at any other category.”

In 1982 15 replaced the AA category and the category system as we know it today was created. What was different about the AA and why did it change? In the 15 podcast, we discuss exactly this and compare older 15s such as Poltergeist (1982) with more recent releases such as Hereditary (2018).

BBFC Podcast Episode 98 - 15

Introduced in 1982, the PG replaced the old A classification that had existed since 1913.”

In this episode, join us as we discuss the PG category. Find out why it was established and how best parents and families can navigate PG films. We also talk about a wide array of classification issues, from violence in films such as Horrible Histories (2019) to threat in Goosebumps (2015) and Lion (2016).

BBFC Podcast Episode 96 - PG

To mark our 100th podcast, we have teamed up with film critic, journalist and host of BBC’s Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, Mark Kermode, for a very special episode.

So sit back and enjoy an open discussion between Mark and the BBFC’s Head of Compliance, Craig Lapper - as they delve into Mark’s relationship with film classification and discuss how the BBFC has changed over the years.

The two also discuss the classification decisions for recent film releases such as Jojo Rabbit (2019) and 1917 (2019), alongside historic decisions of Mark’s favourite horror films including The Exorcist (1973) and The Last House on the Left (1972).

BBFC Podcast Episode 100 - In Conversation With Mark Kermode

What do Trolls World Tour, Bloodshot and The Invisible Man have in common? They’ve all been released to streaming services early so that you can watch them from the comfort of your own home during lockdown.

Want to know more? Listen to  this podcast, which takes you through some of these releases and gives you all of the classification knowledge you need, so you can sit and watch them either by yourself or with your family.

BBFC Podcast Episode 101 - Streaming Films in Lockdown

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, this podcast is all about how we classify WWII films. We talk in detail about films such as Saving Private Ryan & Dunkirk and tell you all about how you can use films to explore the impact of the war with your family.

BBFC Podcast Episode 102 - VE Day & Classifying WWII Films

The BBFC is independent and not-for-profit, and we’re here to help everyone in the UK choose age-appropriate films, videos and websites, wherever and however they watch or use them.

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