BBC calls Guy Fawkes an 'astonishing activist' - and likens him to Nelson Mandela

By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:50, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 01:50, 31 July 2026 The BBC has compared Guy Fawkes to Nelson Mandela and dubbed him an 'astonishing activist'.  BBC's free online study support service, Bitesize, has listed the plotter, who attempted to blow up Parliament and King James I alongside his Catholic accomplices, with the likes of Rosa Parks and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.  In the history resources for youngsters, Mr Fawkes also stands alongside the likes of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela in the section of civil rights activists 'who wanted to change the world'.  The material appears in an educational game called Back in time with...Astonishing Activists, where children can be transported back to the time periods of some world-renowned activists – as well as Guy Fawkes. The BBC website says the game allows children to go back in time and learn 'all about the people who fought racism, campaigned for women's rights... and changed the world forever'.  Players learn about the 17th-century political conspirator's failed 1605 plan to set alight gunpowder underneath Parliament during its state opening – in a move that could have killed the King as well as most of the Protestant aristocracy.  The plan was sparked by disappointment among Catholic revolutionaries that the son of a Catholic Queen, Mary Queen of Scots, had not restored their liberties immediately upon his accession.  They hoped his accession would mean a greater tolerance of their faith, and while he did moderate the relationship between Catholics and Protestants, and many welcomed his efforts, certain members of the faith remained unhappy.  The BBC has compared Guy Fawkes to Nelson Mandela and dubbed him an 'astonishing activist' The BBC has since taken the decision to remove the game as acknowledged 'this description was too nuanced for the intended age group' Rosa Parkes (left) and Nelson Mandela (right) were also included in the game called 'Back in time with...Astonishing Activists' Following the failed plot, Mr Fawkes was captured, tortured and then executed, while his accomplices were tracked down and killed – including the gunpowder plot leader, Robert Catesby.  The game, accompanied by factual material, explains how Bonfire Night, held on November 5, is a celebration of the failed Gunpowder Plot.  Meanwhile, players can build digital bonfires, and help Mr Fawkes hide from a royal guard in Parliament's basement as well as aid him in killing rats during his imprisonment at the Tower of London.  It comes as questions previously emerged concerning the broadcaster's educational material over the years, as in 2023 it alleged every Brit is 'descended from immigrants' – an assertion that has since been removed.  A BBC spokesman said: 'We acknowledge this description was too nuanced for the intended age group and have taken the decision to remove the game.  'Bitesize contains thousands of educational resources that we regularly review to ensure they remain relevant and appropriate for the audience.'