For many students up and down the country, this year’s A-Level Results Day brought about stress, excitement, relief, or disappointment.
But for Callum Johnson-Mills, it brought about an unexpected opportunity – a live interview for the BBC as part of the outlet’s results day coverage.
Rather than chat about his A-Levels and the spot he’s secured to study at University College London, the Liverpudlian went viral for calling for an “end to genocide” in Gaza and criticising what he alleged was BBC’s complicity.
We spoke to Callum about his viral BBC video moment and what’s next for him at UCL.
Callum is 19 and plans to study international social and political studies
Moving to London in September to study at UCL, Callum will begin a degree in international social and political studies. He’s been into politics since he was younger, also studying it at A-Level.
He claimed the BBC was ‘complicit’ in genocide during a live interview on A-Level Results Day
@cal.j.m @BBC @BBC News complicit in g3n0cide
#resultsday #alevels #resultsday2025 #bbcnews #foryou
The interview was organised ahead of time, but Callum explained he didn’t realise that it would be the BBC coming into his college until the week before. He told The Tab: “At the start of August, my college told me they were looking for students to speak to the media on Results Day.
“I was more than happy to so I agreed to it. About a week before Results Day, I was sent a brief consent form, which stated that the media outlet coming to our college was the BBC.
“As soon as I saw it was the BBC, my mind went straight to Palestine. I didn’t really care about discussing results as there are more important things in the world, but I did briefly talk about them before that short clip. Before the clip, I said ‘I am going to study international social and political studies at UCL down in London, and on that note…’”
Explaining why he made the claim live on air, Callum said: “I thought it was most fitting to make a political statement after setting it up with the fact that I’m going to study politics.”
After being questioned about his results, he calmly ended his interview by saying: “Free Palestine, end the genocide, and the BBC is complicit. The BBC reporter, seeming somewhat ruffled, tried to steer things back on track. “We’re here to talk about A level results today. Gaza – that’s a whole different subject,” she said.
He then uploaded the clip to TikTok, where it completely blow up. Since he posted, it’s had over five million views and 800,000 likes.
‘If I’m panicking at the thought of saying what I said, then the fear, terror and panic of Palestinians living through a genocide must be unimaginable’
Callum explained that he had nerves the night before the interview, and that he talked it through with his mum before A-Level Results Day.
“I was nervous the night before and was in my mum’s room panicking, going back and forth with myself saying, ‘should I do it?’. But then I thought, if I am panicking at the thought of saying what I said, then the fear, terror and panic of Palestinians living through a genocide must be unimaginable.
“I kind of stepped back and realised that courage isn’t me speaking on live TV, but courage is what the people of Palestine have shown under decades of oppression. This really helped me change my perspective on my nerves.”
‘Hopefully I will be granted more of an opportunity to bring this immensely important topic into the classroom’
Callum detailed how he felt that uni would provide him more opportunity for activism and political speaking, telling The Tab: “I feel as though I couldn’t speak about Palestine as much as I would have liked to in college, so with doing a politically centred degree at university, and Palestine societies existing in UCL, hopefully I will be granted more of an opportunity to bring this immensely important topic into the classroom.”
‘I see social media as a key tool for everything in politics’
Adding how social media plays a vital role in politics and making change in the world: “I see social media as a key tool for everything in politics. The way we as a society, and specifically young people, interact with the wider world is through social media.
“It’s a method of engaging people politically, raising awareness, connecting with people, seeing different political stances, a place for donating, organising protests, joining political parties…
“The list is never-ending but it 100 per cent can create political change. Already I have had a plethora of messages from people telling me they have learned a lot, they have donated, they feel inspired to speak out and overall feel more engaged in social issues.
“This really moved me and made me realise that any positive change is real positive change, no matter how small it may feel. I hope to receive more messages like those.”
When asked how the big move to London will shape his activism, Callum was hopeful for more opportunities to use his voice. He explained: “I hope the move to London just blesses me with more opportunities and more of a platform to speak out on. The heart of politics in the UK is in London – for obvious reasons around the location of parliament – so if it all goes well, I will be able to continue making change but this time on a bigger scale.
“Also, lots of prominent political figures and activists are based in London, so I’m hoping I can network and connect with like-minded people with a common goal of social justice.”
‘I encourage everyone to step back and realise that our ability to go to university, have lectures, and socialise in education is an immense privilege that many Palestinians have been robbed of’
Despite having lots to look forward to, Callum reiterated his privilege to be able to study higher education in the context of other places in the world currently: “I am excited for absolutely everything to be honest. I can’t wait to study a course that I have been dreaming of for years, joining societies, engaging with politics more, and, of course, Freshers’ Week is always exciting.
“With that said, I just want to reiterate a few things. I know lots of students will be reading this so I encourage everyone to step back and realise that our ability to go to university, have lectures, and socialise in education is an immense privilege that many Palestinians have been robbed of.
“So, with the academic year starting, let’s all keep Palestine in our thoughts and let that translate through our actions. Contact your MP, protest, donate, raise awareness, sign up to join ‘your party’ and strive for change.”
BBC has been contacted for comment.
Featured image via Instagram @cal.j.m
