BBC director general Tim Davie and news chief executive Deborah Turness both resigned on Sunday. The shocking decision was announced after the BBC’s flagship documentary Panorama was accused of altering President Donald Trump’s speech to make it appear as if he had encouraged the January 6 Capitol riot.
“This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an excellent Director General over the past five years. He has driven the BBC forward with determination, dedication and foresight,” said BBC Chairman Sameer Shah. “He has had the full support of me and the Board of Directors. However, I understand that there are ongoing pressures on him personally and professionally that have led him to make this decision today. The entire Board respects this decision and the reasons for it.”
In his resignation statement to BBC staff, Mr Davie said: “Like any public organization, the BBC is not perfect and must always be open, transparent and accountable. The current debate over BBC News naturally contributed to my decision, although it was not the only reason. Overall the BBC has done well, but there have been some mistakes. As director-general I must take ultimate responsibility.”
“I have made the difficult decision that it is no longer my role to lead you in the direction of the common vision we all share: the pursuit of truth without an agenda,” Turness said in a statement.
Troubles for the BBC began on November 3 after the Telegraph published details of a 19-page document on BBC bias by a former independent external adviser to the BBC Standards Board. In the report, Panorama was accused of splicing together footage that made President Trump “‘say’ things he did not actually say.” One of the most damning videos shows President Trump walking to the Capitol with his supporters and vowing to “fight like hell” when he actually encouraged them to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
The document also claimed that the BBC’s senior management ignored complaints and suggestions from the Standards Board.
Mr Davie has faced a number of major scandals since being appointed director-general in 2020, including the resignation of the BBC’s new top anchor Huw Edwards and accusations of bias from both sides over his coverage of the Gaza war. Earlier this year, the BBC apologized over its documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone after it was revealed that the 13-year-old narrator’s father held a position within the Hamas-run regime, but regulator Ofcom said the omission was a “serious breach” of broadcasting rules.
Davie joined the BBC in 2005 as director of marketing, communications and audiences. Turness was appointed CEO of BBC News in 2022 and previously served as president of NBC News.
