The BBC has refused to broaden its longstanding Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot to include contributions from atheists and humanists.

It comes despite the editor of the Today Programme having previously written in favour of broadening its contributors to include non-religious groups.

Humanists UK is campaigning, along with other groups, for the three minute slot to include contributions from those who do not align themselves to any faith or believe in a deity.

In an open letter to Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, Humanists UK said: “More than half the British population do not belong to any religion and around a quarter have a humanist worldview. By barring humanists from Thought for the Day (TfTD), the BBC is blatantly failing its remit to reflect the diversity of beliefs of its audience and wider population, and its legal duty to treat non-religious and religious beliefs equally.

“To many, the exclusion of humanists from Thought for the Day sends a very clear

message that humanists do not have as much to contribute as religious people to one of the BBC’s most high-profile ethical slots.”

But in a statement the BBC said the slot on the Today programme, which has hosted it for nearly 50- years, “does not need changing”.