British Board of Film Classification appoints TV presenter Natasha Kaplinsky as chair [EXCLUSIVE]

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has appointed journalist and television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky OBE as new President. She will replace longtime leader Patrick Swaffer, who is stepping down after 10 years.

Formed in 1912, the BBFC is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization that is responsible classify movies, videotapes, discs and online content.

Kaplinsky — a former studio presenter for the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 5 — will take over the new post in October. As President, she will join the Board of Directors and chair the Classification Board, which is responsible for overseeing all classification matters. The council meets once a month.

Kaplinsky will also chair the BBFC's Advisory Council on Child Viewing (APCV), which was created in 1999 and meets three times a year. The APCV advises the BBFC on issues concerning children and young people.

The BBFC Chairman brings independence to difficult cases and political issues, and works closely with external stakeholders from Westminster, Whitehall and the media.

In this role, Kaplinsky will also champion education and outreach activities throughout the year, and will meet with the BBFC Youth Panel in the coming months. She will work closely with Managing Director David Austin.

Throughout his career, Kaplinsky has held positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. non-profit. She is currently President of Barnardo's and an Ambassador for Save the Children. In December 2020, she founded the U.K. Women's Network, empowering women and girls to leverage their talents and resources. She is also patron of a number of charities, including The Bevern Trust, a charity that looks after young adults with learning difficulties.

The presenter received an OBE in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honors List for his services to Holocaust remembrance. In 2014, she became a member of the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission, and in 2015 she was appointed by the Prime Minister to the advisory board of the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation.

Kaplinsky said: "The BBFC is accountable to the government, parliament, local authorities and people across the UK It is clear that he takes his responsibility seriously, alongside the impartial nature of his role. For over a century, the BBFC has done a fantastic job of helping families have a positive viewing experience, where and how they watch content. It is crucial that the well-being of children is at the forefront of political decision-making and this is at the heart of BBFC's efforts in the online safety space. I am truly delighted to bring my knowledge and experience to help guide the BBFC into its 110th year and beyond. The challenges facing young people in the UK today are greater than ever - and I am committed to giving voice to their needs."

Austin added, "[Natasha] brings a wealth of expertise and deep understanding of our audience target of parents, carers 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 the UK public. influence, media insight and vision she will bring will truly help shape the future of the BBFC."

He added: "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Patrick for his valuable and long -lasting contributions throughout his ten years as President and his support for me as CEO.”

Swaffer, outgoing president of the organization, said: "Looking back on the past decade, I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved.The modernization of the organization, including the introduction of our cloud-based compliance platform, Horizon, has allowed us to work more flexibly and efficiently than ever before. Public confidence in the BBFC remains extremely high and as a result we have seen our widely recognized age classifications extend beyond our statutory responsibilities;...