‘Sofa’, so good: BBC Breakfast’s red sofa makes its way to Ramallah

Walid Batrawi explains how one retired BBC Breakfast sofa found a new home in the Palestinian Territories with BBC Media Action, the BBC’s international development charity.

The BBC Breakfast sofa is a TV icon. During the show’s 34 years countless presenters, politicians, musicians, pundits and members of the public have settled down on its bright red upholstery.

When BBC Breakfast moved from London to a smaller studio in Salford in 2012, they needed a new sofa that would fit the space. The BBC was keen to donate the old one – and we needed to furnish the set of our new TV shows in the Palestinian Territories. Saved from the scrap heap the iconic red sofa was shipped, via the BBC’s Jerusalem bureau, to start a new life in Ramallah.

Five year anniversary

For the past five years, the former Breakfast sofa has been a fixture on two ‘Question Time’ style TV debate shows, Aswat Min Felesteen (Voices from Palestine) and Hur El-Kalam (Free to Speak). It has seen high profile guests put through their paces by a lively studio audience – vital in a place that has suffered years of conflict and instability.

Guests have included former Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad who was challenged on his plans to plug the brain drain among Palestinians, and Dr Anan Masri, Deputy Minister for Health who promised to look into an alleged case of medical misdiagnosis.

Being able to question public officials has given our audience members greater confidence. One man in his 20s living in Gaza told us, “I learnt not be afraid about questioning an official – and if they evade the question, I can ask it again.” Others thanked us for helping point them in the direction of organisations that could solve their problems.

Since launching in 2012 with our partners BBC Arabic and the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), we’ve reached 1.17 million adults in Gaza and the West Bank helping people understand their rights and hold public officials to account.

Signature sofa

Part of the project involved helping PBC train its production staff and upgrade its studios.

“This is the first time I’ve seen nice set designs and a good selection of panellists,” one media professional told us. “It looks like the shows on international channels.”

I’m pleased to report that the iconic sofa continues its life at the centre of a project that’s helping the Palestinian Territories build a more inclusive society.

Walid Batrawi is Director of BBC Media Action, Palestinian Territories

• BBC Media Action doesn’t receive any funding from the BBC’s licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support its work.