BBC director behind the ‘creative’ decision to censor Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory at Last Night of the Proms to step down after nine years

• David Pickard will step down as director of the BBC Proms in 2024 

David Pickard will step down as director of the BBC Proms in 2024 after nine years in the role.

The director, who was appointed in the role in 2015, said: ‘It has been an immense honour and privilege to run the world’s greatest classical music festival.’ 

His tenure survived turbulent times after the director claimed in 2019 that he did not want Proms to be a ‘political platform’, yet it became the centre of controversy in 2020 after he refused to play Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory on the Last Night of the Proms.

Although the decision, which was described as primarily a ‘creative’ choice, was later overturned by the BBC after criticism from then-prime minister Boris Johnson. 

David Pickard will step down as director of the BBC Proms in 2024 after nine years in the role

BBC Proms in 2019 showing Jamie Barton waving the the rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Pickard said ‘It has been an immense honour and privilege to run the world’s greatest classical music festival’

There were also complaints by Conservative political figures after a pro-remain group handed out EU flags that were used during the Last Night of the Proms.

There were some EU flags spotted during the BBC’s coverage of the evening in September 2023 when Rule, Britannia! played at the Royal Albert Hall, which usually prompts the audience to wave flags.

Mr Pickard’s statement continued by saying what a privilege it was to work ‘alongside an incredible team, working with many of the most exciting orchestras, musicians and artists on the planet.

‘By the end of next summer I will have planned and delivered nine Proms seasons and it feels like the right time to move on and explore new projects. 

‘After the critical and box office success of the 2023 Proms, I look forward to delivering one more season in 2024.’

His time in post also oversaw the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra play last year and the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the end of the First World War in 2018.

Last year, the BBC Proms had both the First Night and Last Night conducted by women – Dalia Stasevska and Marin Alsop.

Conductor Dalia Stasevska led the orchestra for Last Night of the Proms in September  2020 after they performed live at the Royal Albert Hall in London but without an audience due to coronavirus restrictions

BBC Proms became the centre of controversy in 2020 after refused to play Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory on the Last Night of the Proms (pictured in 2012) 

The 2019 Last Night of the Proms was hijacked by people waving EU flags amid the row over Brexit (pictured)

Speaking about female conductors, featured on the Proms, Mr Pickard has previously said that ‘we still inherit the past of a male-dominated compositional world’ and ‘sadly, conducting has been seen as a male preserve in the past’. 

It also had the first weekend-long Proms festival outside London in its history at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in the north east of England.

Sam Jackson, controller of BBC Radio 3, said Mr Pickard has done a ‘fantastic job’ and thanked him for his work.

Mr Jackson added: ‘It was a pleasure working alongside him this season, where I saw first-hand his commitment to musical excellence and reaching broader audiences – leading to record-breaking figures on BBC Sounds and iPlayer.

‘David has consistently championed classical music at the BBC, in particular the BBC’s own orchestras and choirs, ensuring they remain the beating heart of every Proms season. I look forward to working with him again next year and giving him a proper send-off after the Last Night of the Proms.’

Mr Pickard had been general director of Glyndebourne for more than a decade and spent eight years as chief executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment before being appointed as BBC Proms director.

The Proms also sparked controversy in 2018 over a US actress playing the part of Puerto Rican immigrant Maria in an a performance of West Side Story.

Canadian singer and actress Mikaela Bennett then took on the role after Broadway star Sierra Boggess from Colorado quit, saying she would be denying ‘Latinas the opportunity to sing this score’.

During his last year, Mr Pickard will work on the Proms 2024 and plan for future seasons. 

He will remain in post until October 2024 and recruitment for his replacement will begin in the New Year, the BBC said.

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