Over 35,000 people have backed a petition calling for the BBC to rule out compensating Donald Trump as his legal threat looms.
The petition says that any financial payment to Trump would be “inappropriate and against the ethos of public service broadcasting,” and demands that any compensation paid should be refunded to TV licence payers.
It says: “Such an action would mean using public funds for purposes that many licence payers might find objectionable and unrepresentative of their values.
The US president has said he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC over the way his “beautiful speech” on 6 January 2021 was edited.
Speaking for the first time since his lawyers took the unprecedented step of threatening to sue the corporation for $1bn, he told Fox News: "They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical.”
He claimed the BBC "defrauded the public", adding: “I think I have an obligation to [sue them], you can’t allow people to do that.”
Key Points
- BBC must get 'house in order': Starmer
- 35,000 call for BBC to not compensate Trump
- Trump says he has an 'obligation' to sue BBC
- We must fight for our journalism, defiant BBC boss says after Trump legal threat
- Sir Robbie Gibb's position on BBC board called into question
BBC must get 'house in order': Starmer
12:23 , Athena StavrouSir Keir Starmer has said the BBC must “get their house in order”, as he defended the broadcaster amid a legal threat from the US president.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Donald Trump is “trying to destroy” the BBC and asked Starmer during PMQs if he would tell the president to “drop his legal threat.
Sir Keir Replied: “I believe in a strong and independent BBC.”
He added: “The argument for impartial British news service is stronger than ever, and where mistakes are made they do need to get their house in order and the BBC must uphold the highest standards, be accountable and correct errors quickly.
“But I will always stand up for a strong, independent BBC.”
Rees-Mogg: BBC should 'settle with Trump' for being 'horribly wrong'
11:54 , Athena StavrouActing head of BBC News to address staff - reports
11:32 , Athena StavrouThe acting head of BBC News is set to address staff today, according to reports.
Jonathan Munro, who is currently the deputy head of news, will be taking charge of the news operation after CEO Deborah Turness announced she will be stepping down.
Turness has not yet officially left the job as of yet, but in a call yesterday Tim Davie said Munro would be leading news for at least a few days.
Abortion Rights condemns memo labeling ‘reproductive rights’ as 'contested' term
11:14 , Athena StavrouAbortion rights campaigners have criticised Michael Prescott’s memo for labelling the term “reproductive rights” as “contested.
In the former BBC adviser’s leaked memo, he wrote that the BBC “focused too heavily” on Harris campaign issues such as abortion and women’s rights.
He wrote the BBC sometimes “fell into using, without attribution, contested language such as ‘reproductive rights’”, adding he thought this signalled to viewers a “biased mindset”.
Kerry Abel, chair of Abortion Rights, said she was “shocked” to see the term - which is recognised by the UN - was labelled “contested”.
“Labelling it ‘contested’ risks obscuring the reality of the issues at stake and undermines trust in accurate, rights-based reporting,” she said.
Recap: Davie explains his departure
10:55 , Athena StavrouWhile speaking to staff on a call on Tuesday morning, outgoing director general Tim Davie gave three key reasons for his departure.
BBC News reported he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Majority believe BBC should apologise - poll
10:27 , Athena StavrouThe majority of Britons believe the BBC should apologise to Donald Trump over the editing of his speech in a panorama documentary.
A new YouGov poll found 57 per cent of respondents believed the BBC should apologise, while 25 per cent believed they shouldn’t and 18 percent didn’t know.
90 per cent of Reform voters believed the BBC should apologise, compared to 75 per cent of Conservatives, 55 per cent of Lib Dems and 51 per cent of Labour voters.
Only 35 per cent of 18-25 year olds believed the broadcaster should say sorry, compared to 70 per cent of people aged over 65.
Trump defends 'very calming' and 'beautiful' speech
10:02 , Athena StavrouAs he said he had an “obligation” to sue the BBC, Donald Trump characterised his January 6 2021 speech as “very calming” and “beautiful”.
"They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical," Trump told Fox News.
"They showed me the results of how they butchered it up. It was very dishonest and the head man quit and a lot of the other people quit."
Trump delivered his speech before his supporters stormed the US Capitol.
Though he did tell the crowd to march “peacefully and patriotically”, he later told them to “fight like hell”.
Who is Robbie Gibb, the man at the heart of the BBC scandal with links to Boris Johnson?
09:40 , Athena StavrouBBC staffers and leading political figures are calling for Sir Robbie Gibb to step down from the BBC board.
So, who is the Tory ‘agent’ at the centre of a tangled web of politics and media interests, asks Katie Rosseinsky:
Who is Robbie Gibb, Boris’s man at the heart of the BBC scandal?
35,000 call for BBC to not compensate Trump
09:22 , Athena StavrouOver 35,000 people have backed a petition calling for the BBC to rule out compensating Donald Trump as his legal challenge looms.
The petition, on Change.org, says it would be “inappropriate and against the ethos of public service broadcasting,” and states that if any compensation were paid, an equivalent refund should be made to TV licence payers.
It says: “This would serve not only as a gesture of goodwill but also as a reassurance to the public that their money will not be used for questionable financial settlements.”
MP calls for all political appointees to be removed from BBC board
09:02 , Athena StavrouLiberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said the crisis at the BBC has provided an “opportunity” to “take away all the people who were political appointees”.
Ms Cooper told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “We Liberal Democrats don’t think that there should be any political appointees and we would like to see legislation to bring back the independent appointments process for the BBC board.”
The St Albans MP added: “I do think that this crisis in the BBC provides an opportunity for us to clear up the BBC and to make sure we can safeguard its independence for future.
“When you look at independent editorial decisions that have been made on particular stories, there’s no doubt in my mind that the BBC has, on a number of occasions, been pretty sloppy, and it’s been very slow at correcting them.
“But I think ultimately this is an opportunity, this crisis, and the way we make the most of that, to protect the BBC, to safeguard its future and to protect its independence, is to make sure that we can take away all the people who were political appointees.”
Trump: I have an obligation to sue BBC
08:47 , Athena StavrouHow could the BBC defend itself if sued in the US?
08:30 , Namita SinghThe First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and gives the press some of the world's strongest legal protections against defamation claims.
The BBC would have those protections in any US court. In Florida, the broadcaster could also rely on a state law that allows defendants to swiftly dismiss defamation lawsuits that have no merit or are brought to retaliate against legally protected speech.
The broadcaster could argue that the documentary was substantially true and that its editing decisions did not create a false impression, legal experts said. It could also claim the program did not damage Trump's reputation.
Trump has said it caused him "overwhelming reputational and financial harm".
Analysis: Starmer won’t be able to duck questions on Trump BBC legal threat for much longer
08:15 , Namita SinghKeir Starmer is expected to face questions on Donald Trump’s extraordinary $1bn legal threat to the BBC later when he stands up at PMQs for the first time in two weeks.
Downing Street has repeatedly refused to get involved in the row - saying it is one for the broadcaster.
But with licence fee payers potentially on the hook for any compensation that has to be paid to the US president the PM cannot avoid questions on the issue for much longer.
What would Trump need to prove if suing in the US?
08:02 , Namita SinghPublic figures in the US face steep hurdles in defamation cases.
In addition to showing a statement was false and defamatory, they must prove a defendant knew the statement was false or recklessly disregarded the truth.
During a process known as discovery, Trump's lawyers likely would ask the BBC if there are internal communications showing that red flags were ignored or that BBC journalists intended to mislead viewers, legal experts said.
They added Trump could rely on a leaked internal BBC memo, written by an ethics and standards adviser, which raised concerns about systemic bias at the broadcaster in favor of the political left.
The memo's critique of the "Panorama" editing process could buttress Trump's argument that the BBC acted maliciously.
Strictly star La Voix makes awkward BBC resignation joke during live show as host left speechless
07:45 , Namita Singh Strictly star makes awkward BBC resignation joke during live show
Can Trump sue the BBC in the US?
07:30 , Namita SinghDonald Trump's lawyers suggested in the letter that he would sue in Florida, where he has legal residency.
A threshold question would be whether the BBC has actively sought to establish a presence in Florida and whether people in the state watched the documentary and felt deceived by it, legal experts said.
These factors could be critical when a court considers whether it has jurisdiction over the case.
The documentary was not broadcast in the US but was available until recently on the BBC's online streaming platform.
The broadcaster has offices in Los Angeles and New York, and it has been sued before in Florida federal court. In at least one case, it did not challenge the Florida court's jurisdiction, court records show.
If a court concludes it does not have jurisdiction, the case could be quickly dismissed.
The BBC has crisis in its bones – but this row is part of a concerted right-wing assault on the institutions of civil society
07:20 , Namita SinghFrom Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, the BBC’s entire history has been a story of one crisis after another.
But after this week’s double resignation, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that ‘good faith’ arguments about editorial mistakes are hiding a bigger and more dangerous picture, writes David Hendy, author of ‘The BBC: A People’s History’
This BBC row is part of a concerted right-wing attack on our precious civil Society
We must fight for our journalism, defiant BBC boss says after Trump legal threat
07:05 , Namita SinghThe departing boss of the BBC has warned staff against the “weaponisation” of criticisms of the corporation as it faces a $1bn (£760m) legal threat from Donald Trump.
Tim Davie admitted the organisation had “made some mistakes that have cost us”, but hit out at the BBC’s “enemies” and urged colleagues “to fight for our journalism” as he addressed staff for the first time since resigning over the way a speech by the US president was edited in an episode of Panorama.
Read more in this report by Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin:
We must fight for our journalism, defiant BBC boss says after Trump legal threat
Nandy issues BBC warning to MPs as she sets out charter review amid Trump crisis
06:52 , Namita SinghCulture secretary Lisa Nandy has called on the BBC to "renew its mission for the modern age" as it seeks to rebuild public trust following the resignation of director-general Tim Davie.
Ms Nandy said that the upcoming once-a-decade review of BBC’s charter would ensure a broadcaster that is "fiercely independent" and "genuinely accountable" to the public.
She also warned MPs attacking the corporation to "consider just what is at stake".
Report:
Nandy issues BBC warning to MPs as she sets out charter review amid Trump crisis
Trump claims BBC ‘defrauded the public’ with editing of 6 January speech
06:17 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump said the BBC "defrauded the public" and that he had an "obligation" to take legal action over the editing of a speech.
Director-general Tim Davie quit on Sunday amid a scandal over the editing of a speech by Mr Trump before the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021.
Mr Trump reiterated his threat of launching a billion-dollar legal action during an interview on Fox News.
He said: "I think I have an obligation to do it, you can't allow people to do that."I guess I have to. They defrauded the public and they've admitted it. This is within one of our great allies, supposedly our great ally.
"That's a pretty sad event. They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical.
"They showed me the results of how they butchered it up. It was very dishonest and the head man quit and a lot of the other people quit."
Reform UK pulls out of BBC documentary after Trump lawsuit threat – reports
06:07 , Namita SinghReform UK has reportedly pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party made by the production firm behind the controversial Donald Trump speech edit.
While an internal email by Reform said the production firm involved in the documentary “conducted themselves professionally” on the project, it however advised the members to decline participating in the filming, reported BBC News.
According to the email seen by the broadcaster, it referred Panorama edit of Trump's speech from 6 January 2021 as "disinformation", adding that a decision has been made to “cease engagement” with the documentary.
It continued: "We want to be clear that October Films have always conducted themselves professionally, and there is no suggestion from our side that they would maliciously misrepresent Reform UK.
"However, following the Panorama documentary the trust has been lost, and both BBC and the production company will have to do a lot of hard work to regain that trust."
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
05:57 , Namita SinghThe US president’s threat to sue Auntie over its January 6 coverage may thrill his base – but legally, it’s a non-starter, says Mark Stephens.
The real risk lies in how the broadcaster responds.
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
US president says he has ‘obligation’ to sue BBC
05:14 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump has said that he has an “obligation” to sue BBC, over the way his speech on 6 January was edited.
Speaking for the first time since his lawyers threatened BBC with a $1bn lawsuit, he told Fox News that his speech was “butchered” and presented in a way that “defrauded” the viewers.
The president, appearing on Fox News's The Ingraham Angle, was asked if he would move forward with the lawsuit.
Responding in affirmative, he said: “Well I guess I have to, you know, why not, because they defrauded the public, and they've admitted it.”
Trump continued: "They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical.
"And they actually changed it. What they did was rather incredible."
Asked again if he would proceed with the legal action, he said: "Well I think I have an obligation to do it, because you can't get people, you can't allow people to do that."
What has the US president demanded?
05:01 , Namita SinghDonald Trump's lawyer Alejandro Brito threatened the BBC with a defamation lawsuit for "no less than" $1 billion. The letter spelled out the figure and used all nine zeros in numeric form.
The letter demanded an apology to the president and a "full and fair" retraction of the documentary along with other "false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading or inflammatory statements" about Trump.
It also said the president should be "appropriately" compensated for "overwhelming financial and reputational harm".
The letter cites Florida's defamation statute that requires a letter be sent to news organisations five days before any lawsuit can be filed.
If the BBC does not comply with the demands by 5pm EST Friday, then Trump will enforce his legal rights, the letter said.
"The BBC is on notice," it said.
What is the controversy over BBC documentary?
04:52 , Namita SinghThe BBC's "Panorama" series aired the hourlong documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance? days before the 2024 US presidential election.
The third-party production company that made the film spliced together three quotes from two sections of the 2021 speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which Trump urged supporters to march with him and "fight like hell".
Among the parts cut out was a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
BBC chairman Samir Shah apologised Monday for the misleading edit that he said gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action”.
Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness quit Sunday over accusations of bias and misleading editing.
Key takeaways from Tim Davie's address
03:45 , Maira Butt• Tim Davie began by acknowledging it had been a “tough few days” and said “we all need to be looking after each other and making sure we set everything in context”.
• He insisted the BBC will “thrive” as he said the narrative “will not just be given by our enemies”.
• Stepping away from his personal decision to leave his post, he said the BBC is “more than one person” and said “it’s all of our actions together and us working and doing our business every single day”, praising the work done across the organisation.
• He said the BBC must “be very clear and stand up for our journalism”, saying he sees “the free press under pressure”, and insisted the BBC “must fight for our journalism.
• Davie said that while mistakes “have cost us”, he is “fiercely proud” and said its work “speaks louder than any newspaper, any weaponisation”.
• Speaking about his decision to resign he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Nandy says she cannot remove Gibb from BBC board
03:30 , Maira ButtSeveral Labour backbenchers have called on culture secretary Lisa Nandy to remove Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May when she was prime minister, from the BBC Board.
Answering a question from Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North), Ms Nandy said: "The charter sets a strict legal threshold that must be met before dismissal of a board member, and so I am unable to pursue the course of action that she suggests."
Why have Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned from the BBC?
03:15 , Maira ButtBBC director-general Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness have resigned, as the broadcaster looks to close the door on a scandal-hit period of its recent history.
A tumultuous week for the BBC saw it accused of institutional bias, as criticism flooded in over an edited clip of a Donald Trump speech in a Panorama documentary.
But this was only the latest in a series of controversies and scandals which have scarred the broadcaster in recent years, with accusations of institutional bias levelled at the broadcaster from both sides of the political spectrum.
Alex Croft reports:
Why have Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned from the BBC?
Trump says he has an 'obligation' to sue BBC
03:01 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump said on Monday that he has an "obligation" to sue BBC for misrepresenting his comments ahead of the 6 January 2021 attacks on the US Capitol.
"Well, I think I have an obligation to do it," Trump told Fox News in an interview.
Comment: The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
03:00 , Maira ButtThe US president’s threat to sue Auntie over its January 6 coverage may thrill his base – but legally, it’s a non-starter, says Mark Stephens. The real risk lies in how the broadcaster responds.
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
Watch: Media lawyer explains significant legal hurdles Trump faces to sue BBC
02:45 , Maira ButtLucy Leeson reports:
A media lawyer has explained the “significant legal hurdles” Donald Trump faces to sue the BBC.
The U.S president has threatened to sue the broadcasting corporation for $1 billion, following criticism over how a speech he made was edited and used in a Panorama documentary.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens appeared on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday (11 November) to discuss the hurdles the U.S president could face.
He explained: “The UK defamation claim is now out of time. He had one year from Monday October 28, 2024, when Panorama aired so he is 14 days out of time or so in the UK.”
Questions over BBC's response to leaked memo
02:00 , Maira ButtMany have questioned the BBC’s response to the leaked memo, saying the corporation failed to either “properly defend itself” from criticism or issue an apology.
The BBC’s culture and media editor, Katie Razzall, reported that the broadcaster had a statement “ready to go”, admitting it should have made it clear there had been splicing of the speech but that instead, the board decided to send a letter to parliament’s culture, media and sport committee.
It was also reported that Ms Turness was “ripped apart” by a board meeting last week about the Telegraph reports.
The former editor of The Sun newspaper described the resignations as a “coup” and an “inside job”.
A former Downing Street communications chief suggested the broadcaster had not properly defended itself, saying: “We’re living in a fast-moving digital world where there are a lot of people who want to attack the BBC, and what we’ve seen is really a vacuum that has been created.
“It’s been obvious for days now that the BBC needed to step up, explain, apologise, move on.”
We must fight for our journalism, defiant BBC boss says after Trump legal threat
01:00 , Maira ButtThe departing boss of the BBC has warned staff against the “weaponisation” of criticisms of the corporation as it faces a $1bn (£760m) legal threat from Donald Trump.
Tim Davie admitted the organisation had “made some mistakes that have cost us”, but hit out at the BBC’s “enemies” and urged colleagues “to fight for our journalism” as he addressed staff for the first time since resigning over the way a speech by the US president was edited in an episode of Panorama.
We must fight for our journalism, defiant BBC boss says after Trump legal threat
Watch: Tim Davie suggests BBC will be 'thriving'
Tuesday 11 November 2025 23:59 , Athena StavrouCriticism of position of ex-Tory aide on BBC board
Tuesday 11 November 2025 23:00 , Athena StavrouSir Robbie Gibb's position on the BBC board is being called into question amid bias accusations at the broadcaster.
Sir Robbie served as director of communications for Theresa May when she was in Downing Street as Conservative prime minister before his appointment to the broadcaster's board.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said his position fuelled doubt and debate about BBC independence and impartiality.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Sir Robbie should be removed from the board immediately.
SNP leader Mr Swinney told LBC: "Robbie Gibb is a very clearly affiliated party political figure on the board of the BBC.
"If the BBC wants to be viewed as an impartial organisation that's authoritative, that reflects the independence of commentary, then I think Robbie Gibb's position is untenable."
In The Guardian, Sir Ed wrote that Sir Robbie should not have a say in choosing the BBC's next director-general.
Threats to stop paying TV licence if Trump sues
Tuesday 11 November 2025 22:00 , Athena StavrouBritons have said they would stop paying their TV licence fee if Trump successfully sued the BBC.
A caller on BBC 5 Live said: “If we have to pay a penny to Trump, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay my TV licence.”
Others said they didn’t think the BBC “has got any out in this” apart from paying compensation.
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
Tuesday 11 November 2025 21:30 , Athena StavrouThe US president’s threat to sue Auntie over its January 6 coverage may thrill his base – but legally, it’s a non-starter, says Mark Stephens.
The real risk lies in how the broadcaster responds:
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
Why has Trump launched action in the US?
Tuesday 11 November 2025 21:00 , Athena StavrouDonald Trump’s legal threat states he would plan to launch a legal suit against the BBC under Florida law.
Under UK defamation laws, a claim must be made within a year of the material being published. The Panorama programme was aired in October 2024, which means it has passed the deadline for legal action to be launched in the UK, Mr Stephens said.
However, in the US state of Florida, the time limit is two years, which means action could be launched.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens told BBC Breakfast: “A UK defamation claim is now out of time, he had one year from Monday October 28 2024 when Panorama aired so he’s 14 days or so out of time for a claim in the UK. A claim in Florida would be in time, it’s a two-year limitation there.”
Watch: Tim Davie suggests BBC will be 'thriving'
Tuesday 11 November 2025 20:30 , Athena StavrouEvery time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
Tuesday 11 November 2025 19:30 , Athena StavrouDonald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC after it aired an edited version of a speech he gave ahead of the 2021 Capitol Riots.
However, this is far from the first time that Trump has threatened a media company with legal action over perceived damages to his reputation.
Read about the various lawsuits here:
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
What difficulty could Trump face in launching a case against the BBC?
Tuesday 11 November 2025 19:00 , Athena StavrouMedia lawyer Mark Stephens has outlined the “legal trip wires” for Mr Trump to secure victory in a case against the BBC.
For the case to go ahead, Mr Stephens said Mr Trump’s legal team would have to show that the programme had been aired in the US state of Florida.
The BBC has not confirmed if it was, but on its website, it states that viewers watching iPlayer, the platform on which the programme was aired, had to be in the UK to stream and download content.
It’s not yet clear if the programme was shared on the BBC’s global news feed. The Independent has contacted the BBC to ask if it was.
Mr Stephens said: “The problem for President Trump’s lawyers is that Panorama wasn’t broadcast in the USA and BBC iPlayer isn’t available in the USA, so it’s not clear if any US court would have jurisdiction to hear the claim.”
Editorial: To be saved, BBC must be reformed
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:46 , Jane Dalton This BBC crisis is about more than one stupid error – to be saved it must be reformed
Watch: Lib Dem leader Ed Davey urges Sir Keir Starmer to defend BBC from Trump
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:30 , Athena StavrouNandy says she cannot remove Gibb from BBC board
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:26 , Jane DaltonSeveral Labour backbenchers have called on culture secretary Lisa Nandy to remove Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May when she was prime minister, from the BBC Board.
Answering a question from Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North), Ms Nandy said: "The charter sets a strict legal threshold that must be met before dismissal of a board member, and so I am unable to pursue the course of action that she suggests."
Robbie Gibb to face questioning by MPs
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:15 , Jane DaltonBBC figures on the broadcaster's editorial guidelines and standards committee will face questions from MPs in a hearing likely to take place in the coming weeks.
The Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee said it had agreed to hold an evidence session with members of the BBC's editorial guidelines and standards committee - BBC chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson.
Former editorial standards advisers Michael Prescott and Caroline Daniel will also be invited to give evidence in the session focusing on the BBC committee's processes and how it ensures compliance with editorial guidelines.
Resignations won't fix everything, says Nandy
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:11 , Jane DaltonCulture secretary Lisa Nandy agreed that leadership changes at the BBC will not fix all the problems faced by the corporation.
She said: "I do strongly agree with him that two resignations are not the answer to the challenges that the BBC has faced, not just over the last week, but in recent months.
"I'm pleased that the chairman of the BBC, Dr Samir Shah, has accepted where the institution has made mistakes. I'm pleased that he's been open with the chair of the Select Committee about that and I'm pleased that he is setting out concrete actions that follow."
Ms Nandy said that these actions must be swift, robust and transparent.
The culture secretary acknowledged "serious concerns and failings" on the part of the BBC Arabic Service, but said: "The World Service is a light on the hill for people in places of darkness and there are many in this in the world at the moment, and this Government strongly supports the World Service and will continue to do so."
Nandy warns BBC to ‘renew its mission for the modern age’
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:02 , Jane DaltonThe BBC must "renew its mission for the modern age", the culture secretary has told MPs.
Ministers will begin the once-a-decade process of reviewing the broadcaster's charter soon, Ms Nandy said, adding it would ensure a BBC that is fiercely independent and genuinely accountable to the public.
Saying the process would begin imminently, she said: "Together, we will ensure the BBC is sustainably funded, commands the public's trust and continues to drive growth, good jobs, skills and creativity across every region and nation of the UK.
“In an era in which trust is fraying and truth is contested across our nation, it will ensure the BBC remains fiercely independent and is genuinely accountable to the public it serves."
The BBC's charter expires at the end of 2027.
Key takeaways from Tim Davie's address
Tuesday 11 November 2025 18:00 , Athena Stavrou• Tim Davie began by acknowledging it had been a “tough few days” and said “we all need to be looking after each other and making sure we set everything in context”.
• He insisted the BBC will “thrive” as he said the narrative “will not just be given by our enemies”.
• Stepping away from his personal decision to leave his post, he said the BBC is “more than one person” and said “it’s all of our actions together and us working and doing our business every single day”, praising the work done across the organisation.
• He said the BBC must “be very clear and stand up for our journalism”, saying he sees “the free press under pressure”, and insisted the BBC “must fight for our journalism.
• Davie said that while mistakes “have cost us”, he is “fiercely proud” and said its work “speaks louder than any newspaper, any weaponisation”.
• Speaking about his decision to resign he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Watch: Government to 'imminently begin' BBC charter review
Tuesday 11 November 2025 17:59 , Jane DaltonMPs attacking BBC should rethink, says Nandy
Tuesday 11 November 2025 17:42 , Jane DaltonLisa Nandy has thanked Tim Davie and Deborah Turness as she said the broadcaster had “faced criticism from all sides for its coverage of highly contentious and contested issues, and accused of giving too much airtime to particular parties, and for giving them too little".
In a Commons statement, the culture secretary said: "Those in this House attacking the BBC from left and right for not expressing views they agree with should consider just what is at stake.
“There is a fundamental difference between raising serious concerns over editorial failings and members of this House launching a sustained attack on the institution itself."
Charter review consultation to begin soon
Tuesday 11 November 2025 17:38 , Jane DaltonThe Culture Secretary confirmed the government will begin the BBC charter review imminently.
"Together, we will ensure the BBC is sustainably funded, commands the public's trust and continues to drive growth, good jobs, skills and creativity across every region and nation of the UK,” Lisa Nandy said.
"In an era in which trust is frayed and truth is contested across our nation, it will ensure the BBC remains fiercely independent and is genuinely accountable to the public it serves."
Ms Nandy said a public consultation would begin shortly.
Changes planned to standards body, says Nandy
Tuesday 11 November 2025 17:36 , Jane DaltonChanges to the BBC’s editorial standards committee are planned, the culture secretary has told MPs.
Lisa Nandy said in recent days she had discussed it directly with the chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, and she understood that changes were planned.
Culture secretary hits out at biased BBC critics
Tuesday 11 November 2025 17:31 , Jane DaltonCulture secretary Lisa Nandy has condemned biased critics of the BBC.
She told MPs that the “BBC is not just a broadcaster – it is a national institution that belongs to us all” and that all MPs should defend it.
She said MPs from the left and the right of politics who attack the BBC for not expressing views they agree with should consider what is at stake.
While there have been problems, she said that “at a time when the facts are being dangerously blurred.. the BBC is… a light on the hill”.
