EastEnders actor Colin Salmon has spoken out in defence of the BBC after US President Donald Trump threatened to sue the corporation over a Panorama programme. The 63-year-old, who plays George Knight in the soap, criticised those 'celebrating' the prospect of legal action against the broadcaster.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Salmon wrote: 'When British people celebrate the idea of suing the BBC they are actually celebrating suing ourselves. We are the custodians of what is considered to be the greatest most balanced of global broadcasters, owned by & answerable to, us.' He added that differing opinions on the BBC's fairness suggest it is 'getting something right'.
The controversy stems from a Panorama documentary that edited together two parts of a speech by Trump from January 2021, making it appear he explicitly called for the Capitol Hill riot. BBC Chair Samir Shah has since apologised for the edit, which Trump's press secretary branded '100% fake news'.
Trump sent a letter threatening legal action, leading to the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness. Davie admitted 'some mistakes' had been made and said he had to take 'ultimate responsibility'. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected Trump's claim that the BBC has 'corrupt journalists', describing the corporation as an 'internationally renowned' institution.
The BBC confirmed receipt of the letter and stated it would respond in due course. Salmon's comments have sparked debate on social media, with many supporting his stance on the importance of the publicly funded broadcaster.
