The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has appointed journalist and TV presenter Natasha Kaplinski OBE as its new chairperson. She will replace longtime leader Patrick Soaver, who is stepping down after ten years.
Founded in 1912, BBFC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization tasked with rating movies, videos, discs, and online content.
Kaplinsky – a former studio broadcaster on BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 5 – will take up the new position in October. As President, you will join the Board of Directors and chair the Rating Board, which is responsible for overseeing all matters relating to the rating. The Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis.
Kaplinsky will also chair the BBFC’s Advisory Board on Children’s Watching (APCV), which was founded in 1999 and meets three times annually. The APCV advises the BBFC on issues relating to children and youth.
The BBFC President brings independence to challenging situations and policy issues, working closely with external stakeholders across Westminster, Whitehall and the media.
In this position, Kaplinsky will also be an advocate for year-round education and outreach, and will meet with the BBFC Youth Panel in the coming months. You will work closely with CEO David Austin.
Throughout her career, Kaplinsky has held positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She is currently President of Barnardo’s and an ambassador for Save the Children. In December 2020, she founded the Women’s Network UK, giving women and girls the opportunity to tap into their talents and resources. She is also a patron of a number of charities, including The Bevern Trust, a charity that looks after young people with learning disabilities.
The presenter was awarded the OBE Medal in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honor Roll for his services to memorialize the Holocaust. In 2014, she became a member of the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Committee, and in 2015 she was appointed by the Prime Minister to the advisory board of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation.
Kaplinsky said: “The BBFC is accountable to government, parliament, local authorities and people across the UK. It clearly takes its responsibility very seriously, along with the impartial nature of its role. For over a century, the BBFC has done an outstanding job helping families to Enjoying a positive viewing experience, wherever and however they view content.It is critical that childcare be at the forefront of political decision-making and this is fundamental to the BBFC’s efforts in the online safety space.I am truly excited to offer my knowledge and experience to help guide the BBFC in its 110th year and beyond. The challenges young people in the UK now face are greater than ever – and I am committed to speaking out for their needs.”
Austin added:[Natasha] He brings a wealth of experience and deep understanding to our core audience of parents, caregivers and families. With Natasha at the helm, I look forward to seeing how the business will continue to evolve to improve our offering to meet the needs of our industry partners and audiences in the UK. The impact, media insight, and insight you will bring will really help shape the future of BBFC.”
He added, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Patrick for his invaluable and long-standing contributions during his ten years as President and the support he has given me as CEO.”
Swaffer, the outgoing head of the organization, said: “As I think about the past decade, I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished. Modernizing the organization, particularly with the introduction of the cloud-based compliance platform, Horizon, has enabled us to operate more flexibly and effectively than Public trust in the BBFC remains very high, and as a result we have seen our widely recognized age ratings beyond our statutory responsibilities, as encouraged by the Government in its response to consultation on public protection standards on video-on-demand services.We are now working with 29 online service in the UK to provide age ratings for content based on voluntary best practice, which is an impressive achievement.As we look forward, Natasha is the perfect candidate to lead the BBFC through what I am sure will be another transformational stage fully supported by David and the excellent staff at the BBFC who have made my time as president such a pleasure.”
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