Viewers slam BBC for ‘forcing politics’ into ‘woke’ New Year’s Eve light display

The BBC has been blasted by angry viewers who say the broadcaster was "forcing politics" into its New Year's Eve light show.

With London's traditional fireworks display called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, Brits were forced to ring in 2021 watching the display from home.

Hundreds of programmed drones formed different shapes in the night sky to illustrate the tumultuous events of 2020.

But some were unhappy with the things the BBC, which produced the show, chose to emphasise.

The opening lights on the Thames bridges were blue and yellow, the colours of the European Union which the UK has just formally split from.

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A bird above the O2 Arena, symbolising the emergency NHS Nightingale hospitals hastily built to grapple with Covid-19 cases, also appeared in blue and yellow.

A clenched fist symbolising Black Lives Matter proved especially divisive among social media users, some of whom felt the political movement had no place in a national year-end display.

The fist appeared while spoken-word artist George the Poet read an extract of his poem Coronavirus: The Power of Collaboration.

"The future holds unexposed danger, but no stress," he read.

"Humankind is no stranger to progress. And as we have proven, when we collaborate, progress follows fast."

Also included was a turtle with the shape of Africa on its shell, which materialised while Sir David Attenborough said: "Happy New Year. Our planet is unique. A living world of diversity and wonder. It's also fragile.

"With a new year comes the opportunity for change. And if we act, in 2021 we can make a world of difference.

"Together, we can turn things around. Together, we can restore our fragile home and make it a happy new year for all the inhabitants of Planet Earth."

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The show was signed off by Mayor Sadiq Khan, who proudly tweeted: "Our New Year's Eve show just sent a loud, proud message to the world: London stands together against racism – tonight and always."

But some weren't so pleased by the show, with one Twitter user saying: "Can't believe the London firework display. BLM, all about change, new ways… never seen so much politicized bulls***."

Another posted: "Anyone else disgusted by the Woke BLM XR NHS overt political broadcast commentary over London New Year fireworks on the BBC??"

Others called the display "disgraceful" and "disgusting".

"Unfortunately, the London firework show, usually one of the best went too political. In fact, it made me feel creepy. It felt like an indoctrination," one said.

Some Twitter users were even convinced the show was designed to promote an "anti-white" or "black supremacist" agenda, a far-fetched claim for which there is little evidence.

However many others seemed to enjoy the show, saying it made them emotional and proud to be British, particularly the tribute to the NHS which saw the logo appear in a huge heart.

The appearance of an enormous Captain Tom Moore in the sky was also the target of much ridicule.

"Just a fundamentally sordid country," one Twitter user remarked at the centenarian's role in the show.

"Is England ok," another asked.

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