Category Entertainment News

BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned following claims that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers after editing a speech by US President Donald Trump

View 4 Images

BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned from the broadcaster.

The announcement follows accusations that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers after editing a speech by US President Donald Trump.

The Telegraph recently published details suggesting the BBC edited two parts of Trump’s speech together so he appeared to encourage the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021, leading to the BBC facing bias allegations.

Davie said his departure will not be immediate and that he is “working through” timings to ensure an “orderly transition” over the coming months, while Turness said in her statement that the controversy around the Panorama edit had “reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC – an institution that I love”.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah has shared a statement which read: “This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an outstanding Director-General for the last five years. He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.

READ MORE: Lando Norris’ ‘flying’ comment made as difference between McLaren drivers clearREAD MORE: Arne Slot issues brutally honest Premier League title race verdict after Arsenal setback

View 4 Images

“He has had the full support of me and the Board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision today. The whole Board respects the decision and the reasons for it.”

He went on to say: “Tim has given 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a devoted and inspirational leader and an absolute believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. He has achieved a great deal. Foremost, under his tenure, the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges in a world of unprecedented change and competition is well underway.

“Personally, I will miss his stamina, good humour and resilience and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the very best for the future.

“This is an important time for the Corporation and the Board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.”

View 4 Images

Deborah, who has been in the role for three years, said despite the “controversy” around the Panorama edit, the allegations that BBC News “institutionally biased are wrong”.

In a message sent to staff, she said: “I have taken the difficult decision that it will no longer be my role to lead you in the collective vision that we all have: to pursue the truth with no agenda. The ongoing controversy around the Panorama on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC – an institution that I love.

“As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me – and I took the decision to offer my resignation to the director-general last night. In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.

“In a polarised world, BBC News journalism is more vital than ever, and I could not be prouder of the work that you do. Together we have bucked the global trend, to grow trust in BBC News, and I want to thank you, wherever you are in the world, for your courageous work to deliver that.”

View 4 Images

Samir Shah also shared a statement on Deborah, and said: “I want to thank Deborah for her leadership of BBC News over the past three years. She has transformed the operation of News with real commitment and a clear vision of the future.

“She has acted with integrity in challenging circumstances and leaves a strong legacy from which to build for the many millions around the world who rely on and trust the voice of BBC News every day.”

BBC Director-General, Tim Davie said in a statement: “In the past three years, Deborah has led the newsroom with extraordinary energy, changing the way that it works and cementing BBC News as the most used and trusted news outlet in the UK and the most trusted news provider internationally.

“She has been a valued colleague and a passionate advocate for her team of more than 5,000 people who work round the clock and around the world, on and off air, to report without fear or favour in an age where press freedom has never been under greater pressure. Deborah offered her resignation to me last night, and I want to thank her for all that she has done and to wish her the very best for her future.”

Following the news, Labour MP, Lisa Nandy tweeted: “I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years. He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years.”

The White House appear to have responded to the news on Twitter with two screenshots. One from an article written by The Telegraph which stated Trump had gone to war with ‘fake news BBC’ and another from the BBC which stated Tim had resigned. They wrote the caption ‘Shot:’ above the first snap and ‘Chaser:’ above the second.

It follows after the BBC has been criticised on a number occasions in recent months, including live-streaming the controversial Bob Vylan Glastonbury set, as well as misconduct allegations surrounding the former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.

Freddie Flintoff is back hosting the hit ITV show Bullseye, three years on from his harrowing Top Gear accident

View 4 Images

Freddie Flintoff and Bullseye grace our screens once again this Sunday. The iconic England cricketer returns to the studio three years after his life-changing Top Gear crash.

The Lancashire-born former all-rounder transitioned seamlessly into TV after retirement and after a successful trial run last Christmas, he’ll front the fan favourite darts game show for a whole series beginning on Sunday at 8pm.

One of Flintoff’s last roles was as a presenter on Top Gear, a position he assumed in 2019. Just three years after he first arrived on the BBC staple, an accident during filming at Surrey’s Dunsfold Park Aerodrome would leave Flintoff with life-altering injuries and permanent facial scarring.

In December 2022, while filming for Top Gear, which has been put on an indefinite hiatus by the BBC following this incident, Flintoff flipped over in a Morgan Super 3 vehicle.

This particular car was an open-top model and so when he flipped at the aerodrome’s first bend, his face was scraped along the tarmac. He was not wearing a crash helmet and suffered from broken ribs as well as serious facial injuries.

READ MORE: ITV Bullseye return date confirmed as Luke Littler joins host Freddie FlintoffREAD MORE: Bullseye host Freddie Flintoff nervous over show despite hidden talent

In an eponymous documentary about the incident on Disney+, the surgeon who dealt with Flintoff’s injuries revealed that his wounds were challenging to deal with and were filled with grit and dirt.

View 4 Images

He also shared that Flintoff had suffered soft and hard tissue injuries, broken and lost teeth and a fractured upper jawbone. The former cricket star underwent a single reconstructive operation that lasted around five hours.

Speaking in this documentary, the 47-year-old detailed exactly what he was thinking during the crash. Flintoff said: “It was a three-wheeler, and it had a reinforced windscreen, so I’m exposed.

“Probably doing about 40-45 [miles per hour]. The wheel came up at the front. It’s a funny thing rolling a car because it’s a point of no return and everything slows down.

View 4 Images

“It’s so weird. As it started going over, I looked at the ground and I knew that if I went on the side, I’d break my neck. If I hit my temple, I’m dead. The best chance is go face down.

“I remember hitting my jaw but then I got dragged out. The car went over, then I went over the back of the car and then was pulled facedown on the runway about 50 meters underneath the car.

“Then it hit the grass and flipped back. I thought I was dead because I was conscious but I couldn’t see anything. I was thinking, ‘Is that it?’ Black for the rest of my days. But I had a hat over my eyes. So I pulled my hat up and I thought, ‘No, I’m alive. It’s the Top Gear track.’

View 4 Images

“I looked down and the blood just started coming down and my biggest fear was I didn’t think I had a face. I thought my face had come off. I was frightened to death.”

Flintoff even heartbreakingly admitted that part of him wishes he had died during the ordeal. He added: “After the accident, I didn’t think I had it in me to get through.

“This sounds awful: part of me wishes I had been killed. Part of me thinks, ‘I wish I had died.’ I didn’t want to kill myself, don’t mistake the two things, but I was thinking: ‘This would have been so much easier.'”

Mother of two, Michelle Heaton, has credited Katie Price for helping her go sober following years of battling with alcohol and nearly losing her life in 2021 after being hospitalised

View 3 Images

Liberty X star Michelle Heaton, who is now four years sober, has opened up on how a night out with former glamour model Katie Price made her realise it was time to put alcohol in the past. The 45-year-old has a history of drinking, but it was a night out with Katie that made her change her mindset.

Michelle Heaton reportedly drank two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka nearly every day at the height of her drinking, and she ended up hospitalised in 2021.

Michelle has now opened up on her battle and said that while she knew she had a problem, she struggled to talk about it. She said: “There were many times when I wanted to stop drinking, but I couldn’t, and then I didn’t want to tell anybody I couldn’t because I’d already told them I was stopping”, she told the Daily Mail.

READ MORE: TOWIE’s Lauren Goodger’s ‘real reason’ for taking eye-opening celibacy vowREAD MORE: Ella Morgan’s regrets over Katie Price’s boyfriend JJ Slater

View 3 Images

View 3 Images

The former singer added: “It was frustrating thinking ‘why can’t I stop, I can’t tell anybody because no one’s going to have the same problem.’ So I was out with a few friends and one was Katie and they weren’t drinking. It made me think ‘what the f**k? I’ve come here to have a good time.’ But I wasn’t having a good time, that’s the point, the drink was not giving me any joy.”

Michelle, who shares children Faith, 13, and AJ, 11, with her Irish businessman husband Hugh Hanley, was then inspired by her friends and thought if they can do it, then so can she. She added: “And then as soon as I accepted I needed help, help was always there.”

Michelle has reportedly battled with alcohol since she joined Liberty X. She said: “I never thought I could perform without having a drink because I suffer from impostor syndrome. I thought I needed a drink to squash the nerves.”

Now, four years sober, the mother-of-two embraces healthy living – working out regularly, often with husband Hugh, and looking after what she eats.

She told OK! Mag last year: “I’m living proof you can do it, even from rock bottom. My poor body has been through a lot. I have a new-found respect for it. I get my sleep and Hugh and I own a gym and work out together quite a bit. Nothing beats that feeling – you never regret doing a workout.

“I used to binge-eat a lot – cross-addiction can be a big thing. Now I choose healthy options, proteins and not too many carbs, when I can. And I’m doing things I wouldn’t normally do, like Celebrity SAS, even if I didn’t last very long!”

While she added that she hasn’t felt tempted to have a drink during the festive party season, she recognises that she might struggle in the future as ‘old demons could creep back in’. She added: “I say I’m “in recovery”, not “recovered” for that reason.”

If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, advice and support can be found at alcoholchange.org.uk

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has shared an emotional cancer post with her Instagram followers just days after she underwent her second mastectomy

Amy Dowden has shared a poignant update on her cancer journey with her Instagram followers, just days after undergoing her second mastectomy.

Earlier this week, Amy revealed she was having another mastectomy, which meant she would no longer be able to participate in any of the Strictly live shows this year.

The 35-year-old was diagnosed with cancer in May 2023 after discovering a lump in her breast while on her honeymoon.

Amy frequently keeps her fans informed about her cancer journey, and today, she commemorated an emotional milestone.

On her Instagram stories, Amy shared a video of the moment she rang the hospital bell, signifying she was cancer-free, reports Wales Online.

Alongside the clip, which saw Amy breaking down in tears, the dancer wrote, “Two years ago today.”

On Saturday night, Amy received an outpouring of love and support as she shared an update post-surgery.

Sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and surrounded by her loved ones, the pro wrote, “Home, resting up, still got my drain in but rrrrrready for the best entertainment and medicine there is for me….. @bbcstrictly good luck everyone.”

She added, “Cheering you all on from home! Lots of luck and love xxxxx.”

View 2 Images

Host Claudia was the first to comment, leaving Amy some red heart emojis.

Joanne Clifton also sent the pro some love hearts, while Karen Carney said, “Sending so much love.”

One fan wrote, “Have a lovely and restful evening.”

Another follower commented, “Sending love and healing hugs your way, Amy.

British actress, Millie Bobby Brown, looked sensational on Saturday evening as she showed off her incredible figure in a see-through dress with a plunging neckline

View 4 Images

Millie Bobby Brown posed up a storm in a stunning see-through dress as she arrived on the red carpet in LA for Netflix’s Stranger Things FYC Event on Saturday. The actress, 21, looked stunning as she showed off her toned figure in the black patterned dress with an extra plunging neckline.

The show-stopping dress featured a bow at her waist, and she paired the look with some silver jewellery. Her hair was styled half up with loose strands hugging her face. Millie, who has played the character Eleven for the best part of a decade in the teen sci-fi series, was joined by her co-stars, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Her co-stars looked just as stylish as Finn, 22, donned a black asymmetric suit, while Caleb, 24, wore a printed blazer with black trousers.

READ MORE: Liv Morgan’s Stranger Things season 5 premiere appearance leaves fans curiousREAD MORE: David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown make bold statement after brutal Lily Allen album

View 4 Images

Noah, who is reported to be one of Millie’s closest friends and plays Will Byers in the Stranger Things franchise, cut a cool figure in some jeans and a dark denim jacket.

It comes just days after David Harbour and Millie were seen laughing together at the Stranger Things premiere on November 6.

Millie opened up on how the estranged husband of Lily Allen has been a support to her on her career breakthrough role, while David described how he was “proud” to be at her side on set.

View 4 Images

Asked what David means to her, she responded: “He is like my dad. I am so connected to him for life. We are so lucky to have each other.” She spoke to NBC TV on the media arrivals carpet and then told Fox about their reunion: “It has been amazing”.

She continued: “We are so lucky to have each other and the show means so much to both of us, This has been the last ten years of our lives and we have dedicated a lot to it. And we are so excited to see that come to screen.”

She added to ET: “It has been so special to have him along the journey for me, Winona and the kids. I obviously have had a really special bond with David because we have a father daughter relationship and we do every scene together.

View 4 Images

“And you really get to see that in season five. So I am really honoured to have played 11 and to have met such amazing people along the way.”

Netflix has now released the first five minutes from the opening episode of Stranger Things season five ahead of the highly anticipated premiere on Thursday, 27th November. The hit supernatural drama first began in 2016 and has become one of the streamer’s biggest series.

Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 airs on Netflix on November 26 in the US and November 27 in the UK

Quentin Willson passed away on Saturday after a short battle with lung cancer, and his former Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson has paid tribute to him on social media

View 3 Images

Jeremy Clarkson has paid tribute to his former Top Gear co-host Quentin Willson after he passed away this weekend at the age of 68.

The television presenter and motoring journalist died “peacefully surrounded by his family” on Saturday, November 8, after a short battle with lung cancer, a statement from his family said. Jeremy, 65, paid tribute with a post on X which read: “I’m far away so I’ve only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man.”

He also shared a photo of him, Quentin and Tiff Needell when they hosted the original version of Top Gear together, with the caption: “And then there were two. Sad day.” Tiff and James May also paid tribute to Quentin.

READ MORE: Quentin Willson dead: BBC Top Gear presenter dies aged 68 as family pay tribute

View 3 Images

Former race car driver and presenter on Top Gear and Fifth Gear Needell said: “Oh Quentin how can you leave us so soon. So many memories of the BBC-TopGear we built in the nineties that I wanted to remember with you again. Please upload the film of me with him and Jeremy in the Ford Puma that so wonderfully displays the times we had together… RIP Q”.

Meanwhile James added that Quentin gave him “proper advice and encouragement” while he was trying to break into the TV industry in the 90s, adding that he was a “great bloke”. Quentin was one of the first hosts on the hit BBC motoring show, alongside Jeremy, fronting the series from 1991 until 2001 before going on to present Channel 5’s Fifth Gear.

He also created and presented a number of motoring shows including Britain’s Worst Drivers and BBC Two’s The Car’s The Star. A family statement read: “A true national treasure, Quentin brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms.

“Much-loved husband to Michaela, devoted father to Mercedes, Max and Mini, and cherished grandfather to Saskia, Xander & Roxana. Quentin will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him personally and professionally. The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach.”

View 3 Images

The broadcaster was an avid “consumer champion”, advocating for a number of campaigns including helping to freeze fuel duty with his FairFuel campaign and worked “tirelessly” to make electric vehicles affordable through his FairCharge campaign. The statement continued: “Long before it was fashionable, he championed the GM EV1 and the promise of electric cars, proving he was always ahead of the curve.”

Quentin wrote weekly columns for The Mirror and Sunday Mirror for 15 years and contributed to Classic Cars Magazine for nine years. He was named motoring writer of the year at the British Press Awards in 2004, when working for the Sunday Mirror.

That same year the presenter made headlines after receiving the lowest score on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with an eight for his cha cha cha with professional Hazel Newberry. It remains the lowest score in the show’s history. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of EV advice site Electrifying.com, also paid tribute, and described Willson as a “true national treasure”.

“I was lucky to get to know him in recent years through his excellent work with FairCharge, where his passion for making electric vehicles accessible to all really shone through,” she said. “He was warm, generous with his knowledge and unfailingly kind. He brought the joy of motoring – from petrol to plug – into our homes and hearts, and will be greatly missed.”

Quentin was a patron of the Hydrogen Trust and was also a Bafta film judge. The family asked for privacy and said funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.