The head of Parliament's culture select committee has urged against replacing BBC chairman Samir Shah despite ongoing turmoil at the national broadcaster, advocating for stability during what she described as a period of "chaos" at the corporation.
Leadership Exodus and Governance Concerns
Dame Caroline Dinenage delivered her assessment following the high-profile resignations of director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness earlier this month. Their departures came in response to a leaked memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott that raised serious questions about the editing of a Donald Trump speech featured in a 2024 Panorama episode.
The controversy deepened when former BBC board member Shumeet Banerji announced his departure last Friday, less than two weeks after the senior executives stepped down. Dame Caroline characterised this series of exits as a "haemorrhaging of leadership" that might have been avoided with quicker, more decisive action from the board.
Committee Demands Fundamental Changes
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The Media Show on Wednesday, the 54-year-old committee chair revealed that her panel would be writing to the BBC board later this week to outline required actions and demand additional information. While criticising Mr Shah's recent evidence to MPs, she emphasised the need for continuity at the top.
"I would advise against any further large scale changes at the head of the BBC," Dame Caroline stated, adding that the corporation must now focus on selecting a new director-general and deputy while beginning the crucial once-a-decade charter review process.
The committee chair expressed particular concern about the BBC's international standing, describing it as "one of those trusted global news brands" and "such an important ambassador for the UK around the world." She warned that it would be "devastating if the BBC's reputation, both nationally and internationally, is tarnished."
Editing Controversy and Apology
The crisis stems from a Panorama programme broadcast a week before the 2024 US election results, which spliced two clips from a 2021 Trump speech together. The editing created the impression that the former president told supporters: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell."
During his Monday appearance before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Shah acknowledged the BBC had been too slow in responding to concerns about the Panorama edit. He subsequently apologised for an "error of judgment" and accepted that the edited sequence gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has confirmed the upcoming charter review will aim to ensure a BBC that is "fiercely independent" and "genuinely accountable" to the public it serves, setting the stage for significant reforms at the national broadcaster.
