Do YOU have a story? Email isabella.machin@dailymail.com See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER Published: 16:07 BST, 4 July 2026 | Updated: 16:52 BST, 4 July 2026
Delivery giant Evri is suing the BBC for around £1.2million after claiming a Panorama investigation inflicted 'serious financial loss' and damaged its reputation. The parcel firm launched a High Court libel action over a 15-minute section of the BBC documentary Evri-Where's My Parcel?, broadcast on December 15, 2024.Court papers reveal Evri claims the programme falsely accused the company of exploiting its couriers, paying them below the National Minimum Wage and misleading Parliament over its employment practices. The company vehemently denies the allegations, insisting the claims are untrue and arguing the broadcast scared off potential customers, costing it contracts worth more than £1.1million.As well as seeking around £1.2million in 'special damages', Evri is also asking the court to award general damages and to prevent the BBC from repeating the allegations or showing the show.The BBC has yet to file its defence and said it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.The case is the latest legal battle the broadcaster faces, after Donald Trump's lawyers are fighting a $10billion defamation case for a sensational 'doctored' Panorama documentary. The flagship current affairs programme, which was shown in October 2024, spliced together parts of the US President's speech made before the storming of the US Capitol led to one of the biggest scandals ever to engulf the corporation.Evri launched a High Court libel action over a 15-minute section of the BBC documentary Evri-Where's My Parcel?, broadcast on December 15, 2024. Pictured: An undercover BBC reporter spoke to an Evri worker Delivery giant Evri is suing the BBC for around £1.2million after claiming a Panorama investigation inflicted 'serious financial loss' and damaged its reputationIt led to both the resignation of BBC's director-general Tim Davie, and head of news Deborah Turness over accusations the BBC had deliberately misrepresented what Mr Trump said on January 6, 2021.Now, in legal submissions, barrister Hugh Tomlinson KC said Evri delivers around 900 million parcels every year, but argued the Panorama programme had caused significant damage to the company's reputation.He said the documentary would have been understood by viewers to mean Evri operated 'exploitative business practices' designed to reduce couriers' pay, leaving them 'regularly unlawfully paid less than the national minimum wage', while also misleading MPs by falsely claiming workers were paid correctly.Despite the legal action, the documentary remains on BBC iPlayer. It says Panorama went undercover to investigate conditions at one delivery unit, speaking to disgruntled customers and couriers who claimed they struggled to earn a living.The programme also includes Evri's response, stating the company disputes the allegations, provides a 'fast, reliable and cost-effective delivery service' and says its couriers earn more than the National Minimum Wage.According to the claim, the broadcast caused Evri to lose prospective contracts that would have generated an estimated £1,164,434 in pre-tax profits.The court documents state that in some cases prospective clients explicitly cited the Panorama programme as the reason they decided not to do business with the company, while in others Evri says it is reasonable to infer the broadcast was the deciding factor.The firm also claims it spent £32,843 dealing with the fallout, including reassuring customers that the allegations were false and giving evidence before a House of Commons committee following the programme.Lawyers for Evri further argue the documentary could make it harder to recruit couriers in future because potential workers may wrongly believe they cannot be guaranteed at least the minimum wage if they join the company.The case is yet to come before the High Court.
