A History of the BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification (previously the British Board of Film Censors), is a non-governmental organisation which was founded in 1912 by the film industry. They are responsible for the classification and censorship of films that are to be distributed, they also classify and censor other works such as; Television Programmes, Trailers, Adverts, Public Information/Campaigning Films etc. all of which are to be released within the United Kingdom. The BBFC was established in late 1912 by members of the film industry and began operating on 1 January 1913. The film industry would rather manage their own censorship than have national or local government do it for them which is why they founded the British Board of Film Classification.

Over the years multiple things have changed within The BBFC, such as;

In 1984 Parliament passed the Video Recordings Act which stated that all video recordings offered for sale or hire within the United Kingdom must be classified by an authority designated by the Secretary of Sate which is why the BBFC came in. From 1984, the BBFC had to classify ever video release that had been previously released as well as all future video releases of both new and old films. Since 1995 the BBFC also had the obligation of classifying DVDs as well as Blu-Rays since 2002.

What we see in films have also changed over the years, things that wouldn't pass in the 1950's/60's would now usually be passed in 15 or 18 certificate film. The certificates have also changed over the years.


- From 1912 to 1970 there were four certificates, Universal, Adult, Horror and X.
- From 1970 to 1982 there were a different four certificates, Universal, Advisory, AA and X
- From 1982 to 1985 there were again another five different certificates, Universal, Parental Guidance, 15, 18 and Restricted 18.
- From 1985 - 1989 a sixth certificate was added to the lot, Universal Children.
- From 1989 - 2002 two more certificates were added, 12A and 12.
- In 2009 the Universal Children certificate was retired.


The difference between the BBFC and OFCOM is very obvious. The BBFC focuses on classifying Films, Television Programmes, Trailers, Adverts, Public Information/Campaigning Films etc whereas OFCOM regulate Television Stations, Radio Stations and Video-on Demand Services, they receive complaints from viewers in the audience and investigate the problems to locate any material that may be deemed offensive, harmful to certain audiences, too graphic etc. which will then either be removed from schedules or moved to a later time to prevent anymore disruption or unnecessary discomfort to the audience.