EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4’s Speak Up whistleblowing facility was used more times last year than the previous three combined as complaints increased tenfold, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Deadline. Meanwhile, one complainant has slammed the facility for being “seriously flawed” and escalated his issue to CEO Alex Mahon.
Overall, there were 24 complaints made to Speak Up in 2021, according to the FOI, compared to 12 in the previous three years combined, with only two registered in 2020. The facility, which keeps complainants and the nature of their complaints anonymous, launched in 2015 but data was only available from June 2018 onwards.
The sharp rise came after Channel 4 made it mandatory for all commissioned production companies to include details of the facility on their call sheets, in part to help highlight issues surrounding racism and Covid rule-breaking. The network also carried out “regular spot checks to ensure guidance is followed,” according to a spokeswoman.
Speak Up is Channel 4’s confidential process for people working for production companies to raise complaints in areas such as “conduct that has endangered or is likely to endanger the health and safety of an individual,” along with malpractice, fraud, bribery, corruption or “other criminal offences or legal acts.” “Concealment of information relating to any of the above” can also be referred to the whistleblowing facility.
Those who want to use Speak Up first contact an...
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