London: BBC Director General Tim Davie and News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness have resigned following intense criticism over the broadcaster’s Panorama documentary that allegedly misled viewers by editing a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The controversy arose after The Telegraph published details of a leaked internal BBC memo alleging that Panorama edited two parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech together, making it appear as though he had explicitly encouraged the Capitol Hill riot. The sections, originally more than 50 minutes apart, were shown consecutively in the broadcast, prompting accusations of manipulation and bias.
Davie, who led the BBC for five years, said he was stepping down to take responsibility for “mistakes made” and acknowledged that recent debates over BBC News had contributed to his decision. “The BBC must always be open, transparent and accountable,” he said, adding that the corporation remained a “gold standard” in journalism. Turness, who had served as CEO of News and Current Affairs for three years, said the Panorama issue had reached a point where it was “causing damage to the BBC.” She said leaders in public life must be fully accountable, adding, “The buck stops with me.”
The simultaneous resignations of the BBC’s top executives are unprecedented. BBC Chairman Samir Shah called it a “sad day for the BBC,” saying both had his full support but that he understood the pressures behind their decisions. He is expected to give a written statement to Parliament on Monday.
The internal memo, written by former editorial standards adviser Michael Prescott, not only flagged the Panorama edit but also warned of “systemic problems” in BBC Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and alleged bias in reporting on trans issues. Prescott said he felt “despair” at the lack of management response when such issues surfaced.
The controversy triggered political and public backlash. The White House called the BBC “100% fake news,” while Trump celebrated the resignations, claiming the BBC had been caught “doctoring” his “perfect” speech. UK political leaders expressed hope that the changes would mark a turning point for the broadcaster. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the resignations were “right” but warned that deeper failures needed addressing. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged the BBC to “turn a new leaf,” while Reform UK’s Nigel Farage demanded “wholesale change.”
The BBC has faced several recent impartiality complaints, including over language in news scripts and the broadcast of a Glastonbury performance deemed to breach editorial standards.
Davie’s departure will involve an orderly transition, with the BBC board now tasked with finding his successor under its Royal Charter. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy thanked Davie for leading the organisation “through a period of significant change,” saying the BBC remained vital to British democracy and culture.