BBC One Suspends Schedule Following Death Of Prince Philip

BBC One has suspended its planned schedule following the death of Prince Philip.

Buckingham Palace announced the death of the Queen's 99-year-old husband earlier today (Friday 9 April).

Now the BBC is broadcasting special programming across its networks to mark his 'life of extraordinary public service'.

In a statement, it said: "With the sad news that HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, has died, there is now special coverage across all BBC networks to mark his life of extraordinary public service and planned scheduling has been suspended."

The schedule now reads as follows:

BBC One

6pm - BBC News at Six
7pm - BBC Regional News
7.30pm - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered
9pm - A Tribute to HRH Duke of Edinburgh
10pm - BBC News at Ten
10.45pm - BBC Regional News
10.55pm - Weather
11pm - What the Papers Say
11.30pm - A Tribute to HRH Duke of Edinburgh (R)
12.25am - Weather for the Week Ahead
12.30am - BBC News

BBC Two

As BBC One, except:

7-7.30pm - BBC News
10.45-11.30pm - Newsnight

BBC Four

BBC Four will be suspended on Friday 9 April 2021

BBC Radio

BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live will continue with special programming reflecting the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, while our music networks are broadcasting amended schedules.

With the news of his death, certain protocols will now be followed across the UK.

These plans are known as Operation Forth Bridge and will see flags lowered to half-mast, MPs will wear black arm bands, while all news readers must wear black as a sign of respect.

It's also thought there will be designated areas where members of the public can lay flowers or other tributes to the late Prince.

The Queen will now enter an official mourning period with all state affairs put on hold.

PA

According to the Independent, this will last for eight days, but a further period of royal mourning could last another 30 days, with duties suspended.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, saying: "It was with great sadness that a short time ago I received word from Buckingham Palace that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99.

"Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth and around the world.

"He was the longest serving consort in history, one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in the second world war at Cape Matapan, where he was mentioned in despatches for bravery and in the invasion of Sicily, where he saved his ship by his quick thinking and from that conflict he took an ethic of service that he applied throughout the unprecedented changes of the post war era.

"Like the expert carriage driver that he was he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.

"He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world long before it was fashionable.

"With his Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people and at literally tens of thousands of events he fostered their hopes and encouraged their ambitions."

PA

He continued: "We remember the Duke for all of this and above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen.

"Not just as her consort, by her side every day of her reign, but as her husband, her 'strength and stay', of more than 70 years. And it is to Her Majesty, and her family, that our nation's thoughts must turn today.

"Because they have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and, in recent years, great-grandfather.

"Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said that our country owed her husband 'a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know' and I am sure that estimate is correct.

"So we mourn today with Her Majesty The Queen we offer our condolences to her and to all her family and we give thanks, as a nation and a Kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."

Topics: TV and Film, BBC, Royals

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey