Evri seeks £1.2m in libel claim against BBC

Evri is suing the BBC for about £1.2 million over a Panorama programme broadcast in December 2025, claiming the documentary falsely accused the parcel delivery company of exploitative employment practices and caused it to lose business.

According to High Court documents, Evri alleges a 15-minute segment of *Evri: Where's My Parcel?* wrongly suggested the company systematically underpaid couriers below the national minimum wage and misled a parliamentary committee by denying this. The company is seeking special damages of about £1.2 million, additional general damages and an injunction preventing the BBC from repeating the allegations.

Hugh Tomlinson KC, representing Evri, said the programme "meant and was understood to mean" that the company had "deployed exploitative business practices" that resulted in couriers being paid unlawfully below the minimum wage and had misled Parliament by providing false assurances. Evri denies those allegations and says the broadcast caused "serious financial loss".

Court filings state the company lost prospective contracts that would have generated an estimated £1,164,434 in pre-tax profits because potential customers cited the programme as a reason for not doing business with Evri. Tomlinson said management had spent nearly £33,000 responding to concerns from customers and clients, while warning it was "highly likely" the broadcast would damage courier recruitment by discouraging applicants concerned about their potential earnings.

The BBC has not yet filed a defence and has declined to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. A notice added to the programme's BBC iPlayer page states: "This broadcast is the subject of a libel claim by Evri Limited, who says it makes defamatory allegations about it."

The programme remains available on iPlayer with its original description, which says Panorama reporters went undercover to investigate conditions at one delivery unit and spoke to customers and couriers "who say they struggle to make a living". The description adds that "Evri disputes these claims and says it provides a fast, reliable and cost-effective delivery service" and maintains its couriers earn more than the national minimum wage.

An Evri spokesperson said: "Evri can confirm it has issued a claim for defamation in respect of a Panorama broadcast published by the British Broadcasting Corporation on BBC One and online on 15 December 2025. As this case is ongoing, we will not comment further." A hearing date has not yet been set.



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