Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont has called the BBC out for ‘censorship’ after being stood down for an interview with the broadcaster.
Beaumont is arguably the single-most transparent man in rugby league with the Leigh Leopards owner often very vocal on matters within the sport, something that makes him a divisive figure.
Despite that, he’s also a man keen to push the sport forward and that’s evident in the recent development that saw himself and Leeds Rhinos CEO Gary Hetherington call for change at the RFL in order to better the sport.
His transparent attitude often leads to honest and frank opinions, many of which he shares on his social media and the Leigh Leopards figurehead caught plenty of attention on the weekend after revealing that he had been ‘stood down’ from an interview with BBC Radio Manchester.
Taking to X, in a post now seen over 63,000 times, Beaumont posted: “When @BBCRadioManc stand you down from an interview because they might not like hearing some honest truths about positions that are in the public interest. No problem will choose a different outlet. It’s ok for them to chuck questions at me unknown at the round 1 game though! Don’t bother sticking a Mike in front of me should we make the final again!”
He would then react to a post, sent prior to him being stood down, about his appearance on the air with Beaumont stating: “But only if they comply with our censor shipped views.”
When @BBCRadioManc stand you down from an interview because they might not like hearing some honest truths about positions that are in the public interest. No problem will choose a different outlet. It’s ok for them to chuck questions at me unknown at the round 1 game though!…
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) March 16, 2025
Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont calls out ‘censorship’ after ‘shelved’ BBC interview
Credit: SWpix
Those posts amounted to differing opinions from fans with some supporting his decision to take a stand and others questioning his decision to call the broadcaster out, something that he has since explained in the Leigh Leopards’ monthly video update.
Speaking to club media about the situation, Beaumont said: “It’s a bit disappointing really. I’ve always had the utmost respect for the BBC – it’s a massive broadcaster and a partner of the Challenge Cup which is back showing free-to-air (Super League) games and they’ve got a massive voice and prescence,” Beaumont said.
“It’s a great forum from which to promote the game. I’ve always, at every single request, given interviews and even exclusives with the signing of Edwin Ipape.
“I don’t think I’ve ever asked if I could be interviewed, it’s always been the other way round. Round one, pre-Wigan game, I was asked to go on and I just thought it was to talk about Wigan so I was a bit shocked when I was asked questions about (previous RFL chairman) Simon Johnson who I have since paid my respects to.
“I was also asked about Nigel Wood and it was a little difficult and I wasn’t prepared for it and here was not a lot to say at that time.”
Speaking to this recent interview which fell through, Beaumont explained that he was happy to speak so that he could clarify recent events before revealing that he was “shelved” after outlining what he would talk about.
He said: “Given what had been said and what’s been chucked out there, I felt that there needed to be an alternative put back to it so I notified the (BBC) representative of what I wanted to talk about and was open about that so there weren’t any surprises.
“When I got there to do the interview, I had apparently been shelved and was asked to be stood down which I found disappointing. There shouldn’t be such censorship.
“All I wanted to talk about was some of the things that had gone out there about the stories they had carried.”
But only if they comply with our censor shipped views 🙈 https://t.co/iwMS6OnY3s
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) March 17, 2025
