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
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.
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“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.”
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.”
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.
