Audience Involvement

Many programmes involve interaction with the public - inviting them to be contributors or part of a studio audience, to vote or join in a competition, or offering them advice or information after the broadcast.

The BBC has high editorial standards for all engagement with the public. This page has information about the guidelines you need to follow if your programme includes interaction with the audience, and about the teams around the BBC who can help you.

You can read the BBC's overall policy on interacting with our audiences in the Editorial Guidelines.

Using interactivity in programmes

If you're planning to include voting, competitions, awards, charity services or contestant lines in a BBC TV or radio programme, or if you're looking for contributors or contestants, you must discuss your plans with ITACU (Interactive Technical Advice and Contracts Unit). ITACU helps production teams to use interactivity to a high standard and in a way that complies with BBC, Ofcom, PhonepayPlus and other regulations, is fair to participating audiences and minimises the risk of reputational damage.

Phone: 020 8225 8959
Email: ITACU

Finding contributors and contestants

If you're looking for any kind of input from the public, we can help you to find it by promoting your programme on Be On A Show. For example, we can help you find:

• contestants for a quiz or game show
• volunteers for a makeover or reality programme
• musicians, dancers, actors or other performers
• reminiscences or stories from members of the public
• archive material, home videos, photographs, etc

Your page on our site will tell the public about your programme and what you're looking for, and give details of how they can apply.

Download our Be On a Show request form (Word format, 112Kb) for information about how to get a page on our site and how to contact us.

Important: you must first discuss your plans with ITACU (see Using interactivity in programmes above).

Finding a studio audience

If you're planning to record your show in front of an audience, BBC Studio Audiences can help you. We can:

• research and invite the right audience for your show
• design, print and distribute tickets
• make sure your audience are well looked after when they visit us
• market your show on the Tickets website and through email to a database of people who want to come to show recordings

Phone: 020 8756 1514
Email: BBC Studio Audiences

Programme support services

If your programme invites the audience to participate while you're on air, or you want to offer advice on sensitive subjects or further information after the broadcast, BBC Information's Client Services Team can provide a range of support services, such as:

• action phone lines with supportive listening and referral to sources of help and advice
• charity donations via secure live operators or automated services
• handling requests for booklets, tickets, factsheets and information packs, including despatch and taking payment if necessary

Phone: 0141 307 5757
Email: BBC Information Client Services Team

Audience feedback reporting

BBC Information's Client Services Team can provide programme statistics and audience feedback reports based on the millions of phone calls, letters and emails we get from the public each year.

Phone: 0141 307 5757
Email: BBC Information Client Services Team

Complaints management

Complaints are dealt with through a standardised process across the BBC. See the BBC Complaints website.