Donald Trump has hit out at “very dishonest” people in the BBC, as he welcomed director-general Tim Davie’s resignation on Sunday night after five years in the role.
Mr Davie stepped down following accusations that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Trump, making it appear that Trump was urging supporters “fight like hell” in the US Capitol building during a speech on 6 January 2021.
But it was only the latest in a series of controversies and scandals which have scarred the broadcaster in recent years, leading CEO of News Deborah Turness to step down alongside Mr Davie.
“The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught ‘doctoring’ my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday evening.
“Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt ‘Journalists.’ These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election,” he added.
In a statement after his resignation, Mr Davie said there had “been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility”, adding that the resignation was “entirely my decision”.
Key Points
- Trump welcomes resignations of ‘very dishonest people’
- 'There have been mistakes', admits Tim Davie in resignation statement
- What happened in the week before Mr Davie's resignation?
- White House mocks Davie after resignation
- Tim Davie's resignation statement in full
Davey responds to White House claiming credit for Davie's downfall
03:00 , Alex CroftlEd Davey has criticised the White House after it claimed responsibility for Tim Davie’s resignation.
“I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job,” Mr Davey said in response to a post by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt which referenced President Trump’s recent criticism of the broadcaster.
“To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all,” he added.
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) November 9, 2025
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all. https://t.co/tRLU4UUtWj
Donald Trump’s press secretary celebrates after Tim Davie resigns as BBC director-general
02:00 , Alex CroftThe White House press secretary has mocked the BBC following Tim Davie’s resignation as director-general.
Mr Davie resigned on Sunday evening, along with CEO of News Deborah Turness, following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US president Donald Trump.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted screenshots of two news articles, one showing Trump criticising the BBC, captioned “shot”, and another regarding Tim Davie’s resignation, captioned “chaser”.
The BBC had been expected to apologise on Monday following concerns about impartiality, including how a speech by US president Donald Trump was edited in an episode of Panorama.
Read more here:
Trump’s press secretary celebrates after Tim Davie resigns as BBC director-general
Culture secretary thanks Davie for his service
01:02 , Alex CroftCulture secretary Lisa Nandy has thanked Tim Davie for “his service to public broadcasting over many years.
In a statement on X, she said he had led the BBC through a “period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years”.
It adds: "Now more than ever, the need for trusted news and high quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and our place in the world.
"As a government, we will support the Board as it manages this transition and ensure that the Charter Review is the catalyst that helps the BBC to adapt to this new era and secures its role at the heart of national life for decades to come."
Farage: Davie's resignation must signal wholesale change
00:00 , Alex CroftNigel Farage has said the resignation of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be “the start of wholesale change”.
The Reform UK leader said: “Davie and Turness going must be the start of wholesale change.
“The Government need to appoint somebody with a record of coming in and turning companies and their cultures around. Preferably it would be someone coming in from the private sector who has run a forward-facing business and understands PR.
“This is the BBC’s last chance. If they don’t get this right, there will be vast numbers of people refusing to pay the licence fee.”
BBC chairman reflects on 'sad day for the BBC' - ICYMI
Sunday 9 November 2025 23:30 , Alex CroftBBC chairman Samir Shah has [paid tribute to Tim Davie as he reflects on a “sad day” for the broadcaster.
“Tim has been an outstanding director-general for the last five years,” Mr Shah said. “He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.
“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.
“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 under way.
“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.”
How will Davie’s replacement be chosen?
Sunday 9 November 2025 23:01 , Alex CroftThe director-general will be appointed by the BBC Board, led by chair Samir Shah who is one of 10 non-executive members plus four executive members - including the director-general.
Four of the non-executive members are appointed as members for each of the UK nations.
The process will be led by the BBC Board’s nominations committee, and it will be made under the terms of the BBC’s Charter, which is drawn up by the government.
Mr Davie’s successor will be the 18th director-general in 103 years of the BBC’s existence.
We can't let Trump destroy the BBC, says Davey
Sunday 9 November 2025 22:41 , Alex CroftLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has warned that Donald Trump must not be allowed to “destroy” the BBC.
“It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him,” Sir Ed wrote in a post on X, in response to Trump describing BBC journalists as “very dishonest people” after Mr Davie’s resignation.
“The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK,” Sir Ed continued.
“The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.”
Analysis | The complaints which led to Davie's resignation are questionable
Sunday 9 November 2025 22:20 , Alex CroftFormer Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger writes in The Independent:
The latest squall has arisen over a “dossier” apparently compiled by one Michael Prescott, a former journalist who worked for Rupert Murdoch, who had something of a ringside seat at the BBC for three years. He has questioned the editing of a Panorama programme on Donald Trump – which elides separate quotes to make it look like Trump said he would march on the Capitol and “fight like hell” with his supporters.
Prescott also has concerns about what he regards as an anti-Israel bias within the corporation, as well as its coverage of certain transgender issues.
Two of Prescott’s complaints seem particularly questionable. The first is that the Panorama editing was “completely misleading”. Prescott argues that the fact that Trump did not explicitly exhort supporters to fight at the Capitol was one of the reasons he wasn’t prosecuted.
But the Congressional committee that examined the day’s events in detail recommended criminal charges on the basis that Trump did indeed incite the attack on Congress – a verdict backed by the only federal district judge to consider the case. The Senate voted by 57 to 43 to impeach the former president, with seven Republicans backing the motion. So, while the way the film was edited was wrong, it’s not clear it was “misleading” in the way that Prescott argues.
Secondly, Prescott seems to have believed that an “equally aggressive” look at Kamala Harris should have been commissioned. He found it “shocking and alarming” that the aberrant behaviour of Trump should be singled out for especial scrutiny. But that suggests a bizarre notion of editorial equivalence. The deputy head of news, Jonathan Munro, was surely right to have dismissed Prescott’s idea of “due impartiality”.
Similarly, with criticism of the BBC over its coverage of Israel, there have been plausible and detailed critiques that suggest that the BBC is, contrary to Prescott’s own belief, actually biased in favour of Israel. But such analyses tend to sink without trace. Is this, in itself, a form of bias?
Is BBC effective at being independent? Here’s what viewers say
Sunday 9 November 2025 21:58 , Alex CroftThe BBC is “ineffective” at being independent from the government, according to 38 per cent of its viewers.
The corporation surveyed 872,701 people in its Our BBC, Our Future questionnaire beginning in March. Some 91 per cent of respondents said it was important that the BBC is “independent from the government of the day”.
A total of 43 per cent of surveyed viewers said the media outlet was “effective” at doing so.
Read more here:
Is BBC effective at being independent? Here’s what viewers say
Ofcom chief calls on BBC to 'reflect' on how to deliver for UK audiences
Sunday 9 November 2025 21:39 , Alex CroftDame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom, said the BBC board would “now need to reflect on how it ensures that the BBC continues to deliver for UK audiences”.
In a statement, she said: “I’d like to thank Tim Davie for his contribution as director-general of the BBC. Over the past five years, Tim has led at a time of great change and challenge.
“The BBC is a strong and valued part of our media landscape and the BBC board will now need to reflect on how it ensures that the BBC continues to deliver for UK audiences.”
Analysis | Criticism of the BBC is out of proportion - all media organisations screw up
Sunday 9 November 2025 21:20 , Alex CroftFormer editor of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, writes in The Independent before Tim Davie’s resignation:
Let’s accept that someone at the BBC made a clumsy error in editing some clips of Donald Trump addressing the crowd on 6 January 2021. And let’s acknowledge that the BBC has known for some time that there have been problems with aspects of its Arabic service. Worst-kept secret in the world: all media organisations occasionally screw up.
The Telegraph – which has revealed the BBC’s latest problems – is no more immune to making mistakes than any other news outlet. The difference is that, when its own editorial, ownership and ethical failings come to light, it doesn’t register nine on the Richter scale of public and political outrage. That’s reserved for the BBC.
Fair enough, you might say. We all contribute to the BBC’s journalism through the licence fee, and it enjoys a somewhat protected status within the UK’s media environment. That’s true. But the venom spat at the BBC on a near-daily basis by its ideological and commercial enemies is out of all proportion to its occasional lapses.
By all means, let’s have a debate about Prescott’s “dossier”, preferably unfiltered by The Telegraph. But let’s keep a sense of proportion about it all. And let’s find a governance structure for the BBC that equips it to handle complex editorial decisions robustly and expertly. The BBC is in a mess – but not necessarily the mess you think.
Trump welcomes resignations of ‘very dishonest people’
Sunday 9 November 2025 21:06 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has welcomed the resignation of “very dishonest” BBC director general Tim Davie.
The US president hit out at Mr Davie after he stepped down after an edited BBC Panorama clip that made it appear that Trump was urging supporters “fight like hell” in the US Capitol building on 6 January 2021.
“The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt ‘Journalists.’ These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election.
“On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!”
Full report: Donald Trump’s press secretary celebrates after Tim Davie resigns as BBC director-general
Sunday 9 November 2025 21:01 , Alex CroftThe White House press secretary has mocked the BBC following Tim Davie’s resignation as director-general.
Mr Davie resigned on Sunday evening, along with CEO of News Deborah Turness, following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US president Donald Trump.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted screenshots of two news articles, one showing Trump criticising the BBC, captioned “shot”, and another regarding Tim Davie’s resignation, captioned “chaser”.
The BBC had been expected to apologise on Monday following concerns about impartiality, including how a speech by US president Donald Trump was edited in an episode of Panorama.
Trump’s press secretary celebrates after Tim Davie resigns as BBC director-general
BBC failed to recognise its own bias - James Cleverly
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:48 , Alex CroftFormer minister James Cleverly has accused the BBC of failing to “recognise its own bias”.
He said in a post on X: The #BBC’s problem was a failure to recognise its own bias. I raised issue this with senior BBC management on numerous occasions.
“Credulous reporting of Hamas propaganda as fact, selective editing of President Trump, not pulling the Bob Villain [Vylan] feed, the rebuke of Martine Croxall, etc etc
“They saw each ‘mistake’ as being in isolation and couldn’t or wouldn’t see a wider pattern.”
Reminder: BBC set to apologise over edited Trump speech
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:35 , Alex CroftLet’s take a look at our earlier report that the BBC was set to apologise for editing a speech made by US president Donald Trump in a Panorama episode after facing a backlash.
The corporation was accused of misleading viewers in a Panorama episode by selectively editing a speech made by Mr Trump ahead of the Capitol riots in 2021, according to a leaked memo.
The spliced footage showed Mr Trump urging his supporters to “fight like hell” before the riots, but omitted a section where he told the crowd “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard”.
BBC chair Samir Shah is expected to apologise for the editing choice, in response to a request from parliament’s culture, media and sport committee, which said that there were “serious questions to answer”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC chairman will provide a full response to the culture, media and sport committee on Monday.”
BBC to apologise over edited Trump speech after backlash
Critical moment for the BBC, says union boss
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:23 , Alex CroftPhilippa Childs, head of Bectu which represents workers in broadcasting and digital media, said: “Tim Davie has steered the BBC through some difficult times, and I thank him for his work to defend the corporation and support staff in a time of declining budgets, especially his work on the BBC’s Culture Review.
“This is a critical moment for the BBC as we head into a charter renewal process, and it is essential that this post is quickly filled with someone similarly committed to public service broadcasting who can champion the BBC’s mission, values and political independence.
“The BBC is a central pillar of our cultural ecosystem, the new director-general will have a huge role not only in leading the corporation and its many talented staff, but in driving forwards the wider creative industries which benefit from a strong and bold BBC.”
Davey responds to White House claiming credit for Davie's downfall
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:12 , Alex CroftEd Davey has criticised the White House after it claimed responsibility for Tim Davie’s resignation.
“I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job,” Mr Davey said in response to a post by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt which referenced President Trump’s recent criticism of the broadcaster.
“To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all,” he added.
I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job.
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) November 9, 2025
To see Trump's White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all. https://t.co/tRLU4UUtWj
Tim Davie: From marketing manager to the BBC’s top job
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:01 , Alex CroftTim Davie, the BBC’s 17th director-general, has resigned after 20 years at the corporation.
His resignation follows concerns about impartiality at the corporation, including how a speech US President Donald Trump made on January 6 2021 was edited in a Panorama documentary.
Davie succeeded Lord Tony Hall as director-general in September 2020 during a turbulent time for the broadcaster following a row about the licence fee, issues around gender pay and increased competition from streaming services.
Read more about Mr Davie’s career here:
Tim Davie: From marketing manager to the BBC’s top job
'The buck stops with me', says Turness
Sunday 9 November 2025 19:49 , Alex CroftIn a message to staff to announce her resignation, Deborah Turness said she was stepping down as “leaders need to be fully accountable”.
“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,” she said.
“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.
Leaders need to be “fully accountable”, she said, but added that “recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong”.
Institutional bias cannot be swept away by resignations, says Badenoch
Sunday 9 November 2025 19:27 , Alex CroftConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has welcomed the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness.
But she adds that the resignations are alone are not enough to address what she describes as “institutional bias” at the BBC.
“It’s right that Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have finally taken responsibility and resigned from the BBC,” Ms Badenoch said.
“But let’s be honest, this has been a catalogue of serious failures that runs far deeper. The Prescott report exposed institutional bias that cannot be swept away with two resignations - strong action must be taken on all the issues it raised.
“The culture at the BBC has not yet changed. BBC Arabic must be brought under urgent control. The BBC’s US and Middle East coverage needs a full overhaul. And on basic matters of biology, the corporation can no longer allow its output to be shaped by a cabal of ideological activists.
“The new leadership must now deliver genuine reform of the culture of the BBC, top to bottom - because it should not expect the public to keep funding it through a compulsory licence fee unless it can finally demonstrate true impartiality.”
Parliamentary culture committee chair says resignation 'regrettable'
Sunday 9 November 2025 19:14 , Alex CroftCaroline Dinenage, the chair of the Commons Culture committee, has been speaking to our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin.
“The decision by Tim Davie to step down is regrettable given the huge commitment to the BBC and public service broadcasting he has demonstrated during his time at the helm, but restoring trust in the corporation must come first,” she told The Independent.
“The BBC Board must now begin the long process of rebuilding the corporation’s reputation both at home and abroad, after the damage caused by what has become a seemingly constant stream of crises and missteps.
“The Committee will be meeting on Tuesday to consider the BBC Chair’s response to our letter and next steps.
“At the same time the Government should bring forward the Charter Review process so the public and Parliament can help shape the future shape and direction of the BBC.”
Deep cultural changes necessary in BBC, says Jewish body
Sunday 9 November 2025 19:09 , Alex CroftThe Board of Deputies of British Jews called for “deep cultural change” at the BBC following the resignation of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness.
The community body said in a statement: “The Jewish community has long had profound concerns about the BBC’s coverage of the Middle East, but this has sunk to ever greater depths over the last two years.
“The BBC has been hit by scandal after scandal, whether in terms of a Gaza documentary involving the son of a Hamas official, its Glastonbury coverage, the open sore of BBC Arabic, or by continuing to call Hamas what they are – a terrorist organisation. Jewish staff and contractors have also repeatedly complained about their treatment at the corporation.
“In this light, Tim Davie’s and Deborah Turness’s resignations must be seen as the beginning, rather than the end, of a process of renewal.
“Deep cultural change will be necessary to once again restore trust in one of our nation’s most cherished institutions.”
Farage: Davie's resignation must signal wholesale change
Sunday 9 November 2025 19:00 , Alex CroftNigel Farage has said the resignation of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be “the start of wholesale change”.
The Reform UK leader said: “Davie and Turness going must be the start of wholesale change.
“The Government need to appoint somebody with a record of coming in and turning companies and their cultures around. Preferably it would be someone coming in from the private sector who has run a forward-facing business and understands PR.
“This is the BBC’s last chance. If they don’t get this right, there will be vast numbers of people refusing to pay the licence fee.”
'Nothing short of a coup': BBC Radio 4 presenter reacts furiously
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:59 , Alex CroftA BBC Radio 4 presenter has blasted “hostile” actors for what he described as “nothing short of a coup” following Tim Davie’s resignation announcement.
“What has happened today at the BBC is nothing short of a coup, a national disgrace, “ said David Yelland, who is also the former editor of The Sun.
“The corporation's board has effectively been undermined and elements close to it have worked with hostile newspaper editors, a former PM and enemies of public service broadcasting,” he added.
“The only honourable players here are Tim Davie and Deborah Turness.”
White House mocks Davie after resignation from BBC
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:54 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard from White House press secretary, who has appeared to mock the broadcaster in a post on X.
Karoline Leavitt posted screenshots of two news articles, one showing Trump criticising the BBC for “fake news” and another regarding Tim Davie’s resignation.
The first screenshot was marked “shot” and the second one “chaser”.
Shot: Chaser: pic.twitter.com/n0U08PnUJb
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) November 9, 2025
Culture secretary thanks Davie for his service
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:49 , Alex CroftCulture secretary Lisa Nandy has thanked Tim Davie for “his service to public broadcasting over many years.
In a statement on X, she said he had led the BBC through a “period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years”.
It adds: "Now more than ever, the need for trusted news and high quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and our place in the world.
"As a government, we will support the Board as it manages this transition and ensure that the Charter Review is the catalyst that helps the BBC to adapt to this new era and secures its role at the heart of national life for decades to come."
I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years.
— Lisa Nandy MP (@lisanandy) November 9, 2025
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.
Davey: BBC must rebuild trust - and not give in to Farage
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:37 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who has called on the BBC to use this opportunity to “rebuild trust and not give in to the likes of Nigel Farage”.
In a statement, Sir Ed said: “The BBC isn’t perfect, but it remains one of the few institutions standing between our British values and a populist, Trump-style takeover of our politics.
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and not give in to the likes of Nigel Farage who want to destroy it."
The BBC is vital in ensuring British democracy is based on “facts, scrutiny and accountability”, he said.
"We must stand up for a free press, free speech, and a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain.”
BBC chairman reflects on 'sad day for the BBC'
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:33 , Alex CroftBBC chairman Samir Shah has [paid tribute to Tim Davie as he reflects on a “sad day” for the broadcaster.
“Tim has been an outstanding director-general for the last five years,” Mr Shah said. “He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.
“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.
“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 under way.
“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.”
'I have to take responsibility': Tim Davie's resignation statement in full
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:27 , Alex CroftWe can now bring you Tim Davie’s resignation statement in full:
I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years. This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the Chair and Board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.
I am working through exact timings with the Board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.
I have been reflecting on the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times, combined with the fact that I want to give a successor time to help shape the Charter plans they will be delivering.
In these increasingly polarised times, the BBC is of unique value and speaks to the very best of us. It helps make the UK a special place; overwhelmingly kind, tolerant and curious. Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.
Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility.
Read more:
Tim Davie’s statement to BBC staff in full as director-general steps down
'There have been mistakes', admits Davie in resignation statement
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:26 , Alex CroftFormer BBC director general Tim Davie has accepted that “there have been some mistakes” during his time in the role.
In a resignation statement published by the broadcaster, he said he must “take ultimate responsibility” due to the nature of his position.
Mr Davie thanked the Chair and Board for their “unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure”, and emphasised that his decision to leave was “entirely my decision”.
He also paid tribute to the organisation, which he said is of “unique value and speaks to the very best of us” - although he accepted the broadcaster is “not perfect and must always be open, transparent and accountable”.
Mr David added that he is working with the Board to ensure an orderly transition to his successor.
What happened in the week before Davie's resignation?
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:22 , Alex CroftThe BBC had been expected to apologise on Monday following concerns about impartiality, including how a speech by US President Donald Trump was edited in an episode of Panorama.
A clip within the programme Trump: A Second Chance?, which was broadcast by the BBC the week before last year’s US election, spliced clips together from sections of the US president’s speech on 6 January 2021 to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.
It underlined concerns about impartiality within the broadcaster, which has been accused of bias by groups from across the political spectrum.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that a memo by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, had raised concerns over impartiality in the summer.
The Culture Secretary told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I have discussed the range of issues that were raised in the email that was leaked to the BBC.
“It isn’t just about the Panorama programme, although that is incredibly serious.
Breaking: BBC director-general Tim Davie resigns
Sunday 9 November 2025 18:18 , Joe MiddletonDirector-general Tim Davie has resigned from the BBC, the corporation has announced.
CEO of News Deborah Turness has also resigned, it said.
Mr Davie’s tenure, which began in September 2020, has been mired heavily on controversy and scandal, culminating in a tumultuous past week which saw him come under heavy fire from multiple angles.
It was his second period as director general, after he served as the acting director general between NOvember 2012 and April 2013.