EastEnders actor Colin Salmon has launched a fierce defence of the BBC, criticising members of the public who are 'celebrating' former US President Donald Trump's threat to sue the corporation.
Actor's Passionate Social Media Defence
The 63-year-old actor, known for playing George Knight in the BBC soap, took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his views on the growing controversy. His intervention comes as Donald Trump threatened legal action against the BBC over its editing of his Capitol Hill speech from 2021 in a Panorama programme.
Colin directly addressed British people who viewed Trump's lawsuit positively, writing: "When British people celebrate the idea of suing the BBC they are actually celebrating suing ourselves." He emphasised the BBC's unique position as publicly owned and accountable to the British people, describing it as "the greatest most balanced of global broadcasters."
The actor argued that the fact people have differing opinions about the BBC's fairness suggests it's "actually getting something right," and highlighted its independence from commercial interests as something that should be "applauded because that is so rare at this point in time."
The Panorama Controversy and Resignations
The dispute centres on a now-removed Panorama documentary that edited two parts of Trump's speech together, making it appear he was explicitly calling for the Capitol Hill riot in January 2021. The BBC stated this editing was intended to "convey the message of the speech" and help viewers "better understand" how it was received by supporters.
BBC Chair Samir Shah has since apologised for the clip, which allowed Trump's press secretary to accuse the BBC of being "100% fake news" and brand it a "propaganda machine."
The controversy has already claimed significant scalps, with both BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigning following criticism of the edit. Davie, who stepped down after 20 years at the BBC, admitted there had "been some mistakes made" and that he had to "take ultimate responsibility."
Political Support and Legal Standoff
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration has thrown its weight behind the corporation, rejecting Trump's claim that the BBC has "corrupt journalists" and describing it as an "internationally renowned" institution.
The BBC has confirmed receiving a letter threatening legal action from the US President. A spokesperson stated: "We will review the letter and respond directly in due course," setting the stage for a potential international legal battle that could have significant implications for the future of public service broadcasting.
