LONDON — BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Director of News Deborah Turness have resigned following a scandal over the falsification of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump in a Panorama documentary that allegedly misled viewers about his role in the January 6 Capitol riots.
The controversy erupted after The Telegraph reported that the BBC’s flagship investigative program Panorama edited two separate segments of Trump’s speech to make it appear he encouraged unrest on Capitol Hill. A leaked internal memo confirmed the edits, describing them as “a serious breach of editorial standards.”
“This is entirely my decision,” Davie said in his resignation statement. “I remain very grateful to the Chairman and the Board of Directors for their continued and unanimous support throughout my tenure, including in recent days.”
He added that while the incident was not the sole reason for his departure, the ongoing debate about BBC’s impartiality had “influenced” his decision. “Overall, the BBC is doing well, but some mistakes have been made, and as Director-General, I must take full responsibility,” Davie said.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the matter as “very serious,” warning that the allegations “raise questions about systemic bias in the BBC’s coverage of complex issues.”
The broadcaster confirmed Turness’s resignation shortly after Davie’s announcement, saying both decisions were effective immediately.
Reacting to the scandal, Trump’s press secretary Caroline Leavitt called the BBC “100% fake news” and a “propaganda machine.” She said that “taxpayers are forced to pay for a left-wing propaganda outlet,” adding that watching the BBC “ruins” her day.
Members of Parliament have since demanded explanations from the BBC over how the editing occurred and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent future incidents.
The resignations mark one of the most significant crises for the BBC in recent years, reigniting debate over media trust and impartiality in the UK’s public broadcaster.
