BBC sparks impartiality row over Brian May's badger documentary

The BBC has landed at the centre of an impartiality row following its promotion of a documentary about the culling of badgers presented by animal rights campaigner and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May.

Sir Brian has claimed his documentary, The Badgers, the Farmers and Me, which will be broadcast on BBC2 on Friday August 23, will 'outrage' viewers and likened its revelations to the Post Office scandal.

But the Countryside Alliance has warned BBC director general Tim Davie that commissioning the film by ong-time opponent of the badger cull Sir Brian is 'fundamentally incompatible' with BBC impartiality rules.

READ NOW: Queen guitarist Sir Brian May unveils new BBC film looking at the link between badgers and bTB

In a letter to Mr Davie, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, accused the corporation of allowing someone with 'clearly partisan views' to front a current affairs programme.

Sir Brian appeared to have been commissioned by the BBC 'precisely because of his partisan activism and the profile he has built for himself surrounding it,' wrote Mr Bonner.

"The decision to do so is fundamentally incompatible with the BBC's obligation to be impartial."

The Government has permitted the culling of badgers across certain parts of England since 2013 with the new Labour Government pledging to eradicate the disease by 2038.

WATCH NOW: Derbyshire targets being TB free in a decade

Mr Bonner also warned the decision also demonstrated a lack of compassion, adding: ‘"Aside from the crippling financial strain, bovine TB outbreaks impose a considerable toll on the mental health of farmers.

"The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution has described taking calls from farming victims of bovine TB who had experienced such crippling impacts as to drive them to contemplate suicide. They deserve our compassion and our support. They are ill-served by a public broadcaster that is treating them with such disregard," Mr Bonner wrote.

However, the BBC has hit back and said its principle of due impartiality ensures all aspects of a debate are covered through a wide range of programmes.

LISTEN NOW: Farmers see no end in sight for bovine TB

According to the corporation, Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me shares discoveries and tragic stories, including one farmer who lost his entire herd to the disease. It also follows Sir Brian as he works with farmers to look at how the disease is spread giving him an insight into how devastating bovine TB can be for the farming community.

A BBC spokesperson said: "While this is a first person piece authored by Sir Brian May, the documentary hears from numerous voices in the debate on badger culling, including farmers. The BBC adheres to strict editorial guidelines on impartiality on this matter."

The film has also reignited a feud between the Queen musician and several prominent farmers including Cotswold-based owner of Diddly Squat Jeremy Clarkson. The former Top Gear presenter has gone on record on his hit Amazon show saying badgers should be ‘hit over the head with a hammer' and has also blamed the poor mental health of some livestock farmers on the creatures owing to the toll bovine TB takes on a herd if detected.

"These are not nice animals. Do not be fooled by Brian May," Mr Clarkson told the Daily Mail.

Sir Brian has called his attitude ‘laughable', insisting farmers will be interested in what he has to say in the documentary.

Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me airs on BBC2 at 9pm, August 23