More than 600 industry professionals have signed an open letter 'revolting' against the BBC for its commissioning strategy which they branded, 'unaccountable, inexperienced and failing'.

A petition, created by Reform The Industry and signed by 'concerned' producers, actors and independent production companies, has demanded urgent change in how the broadcaster chooses which shows to greenlight as there exists in the Beeb a 'disgraceful amount of wasted resource'.

Reform The Industry said: 'Despite a celebrated history, the current systems in place fails to ensure that senior commissioners meet consistent standards or demonstrate recognised industry leadership.

'Currently, no single BBC commissioner works to Key Performance Indicators [KPIs], leaving a gap in measurable accountability.

'The vast majority of the commissioning staff are not the best in class nor equipped with the cutting-edge expertise required to meet evolving audience needs. Many personnel are entrenched in outdated practices, with real experience deficits that do not reflect the vibrant and diverse world we live in today.'

Organised by five producers, who all have active development work or commissions with BBC, the campaign calls for a body independent of the Beeb with the power to scrutinise every major commissioning decision at the highest levels of the corporation. 

They say some senior commissioners earn six-figure salaries while operating without published targets.

Watchdog Ofcom was also branded as 'toothless' – lacking power – by the group of creatives.

A source close to the campaign told the Daily Mail: 'There have been a number of meetings held by concerned producers across the UK and this campaign is born out of that. Numerous concerns were raised and the vast majority of producers believe this industry change needs to start with the BBC.

'There is a disgraceful amount of wasted resource in a time when BBC is cutting content and asking license fee pays to pay more. As per a number of the comments, most producers feel afraid of raising their head publicly above the parapet as they fear being blacklisted and negative impacts on their business.'

While the petition is not a direct result of cuts at the BBC, it comes after new director-general Matt Brittin announced around 100 to 150 hours of originated programmes across all commissioning genres will be reduced by the end of the 2027 to 2028 financial year to save £500million.

As part of the cuts, Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live At The Apollo have been cancelled, while BBC Breakfast's Sunday episode is to be scrapped. Several Radio 4 programmes have also been axed.

One producer, who has remained anonymous, said they felt 'compelled' to keep their identity hidden as there is 'that awful sense of - the moment you raise legitimate concerns, then all of a sudden that second or third series looks unlikely or that development won't go any further'.

They added: 'I see this problem from various angles, as an on-screen presence and as a producer. I have had dealings with BBC drama, comedy and film, and find it a laborious process and all too often ill informed.'

Last year, the BBC faced widespread controversy after it emerged that the narrator of its documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was the son of a senior Hamas official.

During the programme, viewers heard the voice of 13-year-old Abdullah, who is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture.

A review, said to have cost £100,000, was launched and led by Peter Johnston, the director of editorial complaints and found the doc breached the BBC's editorial guidelines.

In his findings, Mr Johnston found that nobody at the Beeb knew of the father's position when the episode was broadcast, but three people at Hoyo Films, the independent production company who produced the doc, were aware.

Then director-general Tim Davie apologised for the 'significant failing' and pledged the Corporation would take action to prevent it from happening again.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'The suggestion that BBC commissioning operates with 'no KPIs, no scrutiny and no accountability' is simply wrong.

BBC Content is subject to oversight from the BBC Board, Ofcom, the NAO and Parliament; and publishes extensive reporting annually on audience performance, commissioning outcomes, diversity and regional investment and delivery against its public commitments, all within a framework of independent regulation and governance.

'While we will always listen to constructive feedback from the sector, any debate about reform should be grounded in facts and the BBC has one of the most transparent and accountable commissioning systems in the world.

'We put audiences at the heart of everything we do and remain committed to working with producers across the UK to continually improve how we commission and support the creative economy.'