The Bottom Line Awards Put 2026 Business Decisions on Trial

The BBC's "The Bottom Line" broadcast its annual business awards this week. A panel of senior executives picked the winners and losers of the past 12 months.

Host Evan Davis led the session. Nicola Hodson, deputy president of techUK, and Peter Bazalgette, the former chair of ITV, joined Edwina Dunn of dunnhumby on the panel. The group assessed breakthrough products and inspiring leadership, alongside marketing disasters and strategic mistakes.

The show's format offers praise or pillory. No physical prizes are handed out. The panel's operating experience gives the critique weight. A public "strategic own goal" label from this group can land heavily with investors tracking governance or product strategy.

The episode aired. Corporate reputation now factors directly into talent retention and customer acquisition costs. Analysts tracking brand health have a fresh set of case studies.

The full episode is available on BBC Sounds and the BBC App.