Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and Deborah Turness, head of BBC News, have resigned following accusations of “serious and systemic” bias in coverage of Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights. The departures come as the corporation prepares to apologise for editing a Trump speech for Panorama.
Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial guidelines committee, criticised the editing of Trump’s 6 January 2021 address. The Panorama edit spliced clips from sections almost an hour apart, suggesting Trump said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you, and we fight. We fight like hell.”
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called the BBC “100% fake news” and a “propaganda machine”. Trump posted on Truth Social that “very dishonest people” had “tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election”. BBC insiders described the mood as one of dismay, with one saying: “It feels like a coup.”
In a staff note, Davie said his departure was “entirely my decision” and that the current debate had contributed. He stated: “The BBC is not perfect … there have been some mistakes made and as director general I have to take ultimate responsibility.” The resignations follow a year of controversies including Gary Lineker’s comments, a Bob Vylan performance, and a Gaza documentary.
BBC chairman Samir Shah called it a “sad day” and said he respected Davie’s decision. The corporation now faces critical talks with the government over its future and funding.
