Who we are
The trusted go-to guide
At the BBFC, our focus is on helping children and families choose well by providing them with the guidance they need to help them choose what’s right for them and avoid what’s not.
With the huge growth in film, video and online content, and in how and where we can watch and use it, this is becoming more important than ever.
Through our experience, regular consultations and research, we are careful to reflect the views of people right across the country. We understand what matters to families and apply this knowledge in setting our standards.
We take the integrity and impartiality of our work very seriously and over the more than 110 years of our history, we have increasingly come to be recognised as the go-to guide that people can trust.
The structure of the BBFC and its management is designed to both reflect and reinforce this.
The BBFC Board
The BBFC Board is made up of seven Directors who each bring expertise from a variety of disciplines including the cinema, television, video on demand (VoD) and media industries and from public service, social welfare and charity roles.
The seven members include four Statutory Classifiers: our President, Vice Presidents and Chief Executive, who are designated by the Government to collectively classify films and series under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) and are responsible for all policies relating to classification. It also includes three Independent Directors, who advise us on our organisational strategy and the administering of our financial affairs.
Current members are: Natasha Kaplinsky OBE (President, BBFC and Chair, BBFC Board), Murphy Cobbing (Vice President), Lord Patel of Bradford OBE (Vice President), David Austin OBE (Chief Executive), Gloria De Piero (Independent Director), Darren Jobling (Independent Director) and John Stanley (Independent Director).
Natasha Kaplinsky
President, BBFC and Chair, Board of Directors
Murphy Cobbing
Vice President, Board Director
Lord Patel
Vice President, Board Director
David Austin
Chief Executive
Gloria De Piero
Independent Director
Darren Jobling
Independent Director
John Stanley
Independent Director
BBFC Global Ambassador
In this newly created role, Col is responsible for representing the BBFC internationally with key stakeholders, contributing closely to the development of the international aspects of the BBFC’s strategy including our work in the AI space.
Col Needham
Global Ambassador
The Executive Leadership
The Executive Leadership team is empowered to make executive decisions in the Chief Executive's absence.
Dave Barrett
Deputy CEO
Siobhan Smedley-Wild
Finance Director
Faye Harcourt
Director of Marketing and Outreach
Other Principal Officers
Sarah Peacock
Compliance and Education Manager
Chris Davies
Compliance Manager
Edward Lamberti
Policy Manager
Tom Cairns
Head of Business Services
Compliance Officers
Compliance Officers view content and recommend classifications, cuts and other actions, such as proof of age checks for performers. They carry out a range of tasks, including writing content advice, data entry, and checking online platforms to ensure voluntary compliance with BBFC classifications. They tend to be graduates, but this is not always the case. No specific qualifications are required, however experience in relevant areas such as media regulation, law or child development is important.
Associated Bodies
The Advisory Panel on Children's Viewing (APCV)
The APCV was set up by the BBFC in 1999 to provide advice on issues relating to classifying content for children. The panel consists of members with a range of relevant professional expertise and responsibilities.
The Video Packaging Review Committee (VPRC)
Established in 1987, the VPRC is administered by the BBFC. It is a voluntary system, designed to prevent offence to members of the public caused by explicitly violent or sexual imagery being displayed in public places on the covers of videos and DVDs. It also checks that submitted video packaging complies with relevant legislation regarding the display of age ratings.
Cinema posters for films classified with an age rating of 18 are also reviewed by a joint BBFC-industry body.