OU and BBC Collaborate on Morning Live film series

Posted on 1 June 2026 • Business and law, TV and radio

Three short films co-produced by The Open University and the BBC will feature on BBC One’s Morning Live programme, starting Tuesday 2 June with Misogyny in Football.

Reports of sexism and misogyny at football matches have been rising, highlighting an ongoing issue within the sport. In the first film, Rebecca Mason speaks to women who have experienced these incidents firsthand, sharing their stories and perspectives, while also exploring the broader impact of misogyny in football and the steps being taken to challenge and address the problem

The film was supported by Leyla Buran, who features in the film and is the Research Fellow in Policy and Practice and co-lead for the Law and Policy Stream at the Centre for Protecting Women Online at The Open University.

Highlighting how the issue extends beyond matchdays, Leyla said:

“Misogyny does not begin and end at football stadiums. The abuse women experience in football increasingly moves between online and offline spaces and is present across society, reinforcing harmful attitudes and creating barriers to participation. Through my contribution to BBC Morning Live, I wanted to highlight the importance of recognising these connections and encourage conversations about how we can tackle sexism and the important role of male allies in preventing harm from being experienced.”

The series will also cover other key issues in two further films. Solar Panels explores the surge in home installations and what happens when trusted providers fail, with on-screen insights from Professor Gordon Liu, Professor of Marketing Strategy, and airs on Friday 12 June. Project Vigilant, featuring Dr Keely Duddin, Senior Lecturer in Policing Practice and Organisation, looks at efforts to tackle sexual harassment in the night-time economy and will air later in June.

Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site OU Connect where you can explore practical steps you can take to help create a more inclusive culture in football.

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL).

Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships

Academic Consultants:

• Leyla Burran (Misogyny in Football)
• Professor Gordon Liu (Solar Panels)
• Dr Keely Duddin (Project Vigilant)

Media Fellow: Dr Sophie Doherty

Broadcast Project Manager: Clair Robinson

Supporting Online Content:

• Matthew Ray (Misogyny in Football)
• Patrick Kearney (Solar Panels)
• Steff Easom (Project Vigilant)

Image Credit: BBC