LONDON — The BBC is facing one of its biggest storms yet as Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness both resigned following growing criticism over bias and editorial integrity at the network.
The controversy erupted after the BBC was accused of misrepresenting a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump in a documentary — an edit that critics say made him appear to incite the January 6 Capitol riot.
The Daily Telegraph recently exposed an internal report written by a former BBC standards adviser, detailing several editorial missteps. Among them was the Panorama program’s alleged editing of two parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, which, when stitched together, gave a misleading impression of his intent.
This revelation sparked intense backlash, adding to wider allegations that the BBC had failed to maintain its neutrality on key political and social issues — from Trump coverage and the Israel-Hamas conflict to debates over gender identity.
In a heartfelt statement, Davie said his resignation was entirely his decision and that he remains grateful for the BBC Board’s support.
“I have been reflecting on the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times,” Davie said. “I want to give my successor time to help shape the Charter plans they will be delivering.”
The controversial documentary showed Trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol,” followed by “fight like hell” — lines that originally came from different parts of his speech but were presented together in the broadcast.
The resignations mark a major shake-up for the BBC, an institution long regarded as a symbol of impartial journalism. As the broadcaster works to restore public trust, many are left asking — has the BBC’s era of unquestioned credibility come to an end?
