Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC's current director of nations, has been officially confirmed as the corporation's interim director-general. This appointment follows the departure of Tim Davie, who resigned from the role in November 2025.
Transition and Leadership Role
Davies, who also serves on the BBC's executive committee, will join the BBC board as an executive director from February 1. He will then assume the interim director-general position on April 3, holding it until a permanent successor is appointed. In a note to staff, BBC chair Samir Shah praised Davies as "an outstanding leader who brings deep editorial experience and a passionate commitment to the power of public service broadcasting to reach and represent audiences across all parts of the UK." Shah expressed confidence that staff would offer their full support during this transitional period.
Background on Tim Davie's Departure
Tim Davie resigned in November 2025 amid allegations that the BBC selectively edited a speech by Donald Trump related to the US Capitol attack for a Panorama documentary. In a statement to staff, Davie acknowledged that "the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision," while emphasising that the BBC must remain "open, transparent and accountable." He accepted ultimate responsibility for any mistakes made during his tenure, which began in 2020.
Davies' Current Responsibilities and Strategy
As director of nations since 2021, Davies has overseen the BBC's work serving audiences across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He leads the Across The UK strategy, which aims to decentralise the organisation, and also manages the corporation's deployment of generative artificial intelligence technology. His annual salary as of July 2025 was reported to be between £305,000 and £309,999.
Ongoing Processes and Interim Arrangements
The BBC has confirmed that the process to appoint a permanent director-general is now underway. Meanwhile, Rhuanedd Richards will continue as interim nations director while Davies serves in the interim director-general role. Shah noted that there will be a time to celebrate Tim Davie's contributions nearer his departure date, but until then, Davie continues to lead the corporation through a critical period as it prepares its response to the Government's consultation on the future of the BBC charter.
