BBC stops squeezing end credits to give creatives "proper bow"

End credits on BBC programmes have been overhauled yet again, following ongoing pressure from viewers and campaigners to give actors and creatives proper recognition for their work.

The Corporation previously squeezed a programme’s end credits into a small box to make way for more prominent information about upcoming content.

Last year, following pressure from actors’ union Equity, the BBC agreed to make small changes that ensured at least one episode of a drama or comedy series featured credits in full. The rest of the episodes continued to include squeezed credits at the end.

Now, under new director general Tony Hall, the Corporation has changed its position again, with the BBC stating it has introduced a “new look” end credits package that “allows credits to remain at their full size and legibility”.  A narrow panel on the right hand side of the screen points to other content which may be of interest to viewers, the BBC said.

Hall unveiled the new credits system, which has been introduced immediately, in an interview with the Radio Times.

He described credits as “the curtain call” and added: “You want to make sure that the creative team get their proper bow. So we have got a new way of doing it, starting right away.”

Equity, which has been campaigning on the issue of squeezed credits since 2004, welcomed the move.

Union spokesman Martin Brown said: “We are really pleased that the BBC has listened to us and viewers.”

As part of its campaigning, Equity surveyed its members and the general public about squashed credits. More than 10,000 people responded and just 2.2% said that credits were unimportant for viewers. The survey found that 88.7% were annoyed at the way credits have become unreadable.

Following this research, Sky announced changes to its procedure for broadcasting end credits, by giving them more space than they had previously enjoyed.