Singer sues BBC for £10 million, claims ‘Glow Up’ reality show stole her idea

Gladness Jukic, a 32-year-old singer who performs under the name Bossiie, is suing the BBC for £10 million, alleging that the broadcaster ripped off her idea for the hit reality show 'Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star'. 

The show, which sees aspiring make-up artists compete for a prestigious contract with some of the biggest names in the industry, premiered on BBC3 in 2019 and has since become a popular fixture on television.

Jukic claims that she emailed a nine-page PowerPoint pitch titled 'Bossiie: 10-Minute Makeover' to BBC commissioning editors in May 2018, just before the show was commissioned. According to Jukic, the concept of her pitch — which featured self-taught YouTube make-up artists competing, with commercial tie-ins to beauty brands — is nearly identical to 'Glow Up', which was created by Wall to Wall Media Ltd, a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

However, the BBC denies the allegations, insisting that they never received Jukic's pitch. They argue that her email bounced back because the attachment was too large for the system. A representative from the BBC's legal team, Ashton Chantrielle, told the High Court that the show’s concept was already developed and pitched by Wall to Wall to the BBC prior to the alleged submission of Jukic's treatment.

Chantrielle stated, “The 'Glow Up' show is an original format, created independently by W2W [Wall to Wall Media], and produced without reference to Ms. Jukic’s treatment. The idea for 'Glow Up' was first conceived by W2W before the creation of Ms. Jukic’s treatment.”

Jukic, who is also seeking to establish ownership of the show's copyright, claims that 'Glow Up' was "stolen" from her and that she should be compensated for her idea. She has already lost a previous legal battle over a failed trademark for the title 'Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star', which was contested by Warner Bros, leading to a £2,500 court cost.

In her High Court claim, Jukic argues that the show's similarities to her own treatment — including the competitive format and the involvement of make-up brands — warrant financial compensation for the alleged infringement. However, the BBC's legal team insists that the common elements shared between the two shows are too "basic" to be protected by copyright law, such as the inclusion of a professional judge or the competition format.

A significant point of contention is the show’s focus. Jukic’s pitch highlighted the involvement of self-taught YouTubers, whereas 'Glow Up' features more traditional make-up artists and does not emphasize brand collaborations to the same degree. Chantrielle also noted that there is no evidence that Jukic’s email was ever successfully delivered.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, the BBC remains confident in its defense. The broadcaster’s barristers argue that even if the court does not strike Jukic’s case out entirely, their defense is strong enough to withstand further scrutiny.

Jukic’s claim comes at a time when the 'Glow Up' franchise is at the peak of its popularity, with multiple seasons aired and the show garnering a loyal fan base. Whether the singer will be able to convince the judge that her case warrants a full trial remains to be seen. After a lengthy hearing, the judge reserved his decision and will announce it at a later date.

In the meantime, Jukic continues to push for recognition and compensation, claiming she has suffered both financial and emotional distress as a result of the alleged copyright infringement.