BBC CEO, Tim Davie has resigned following intense criticism over the broadcaster’s handling of a speech made by then–US President Donald Trump on the day of the January 6 Capitol riot, drawing to a close a bruising week for the corporation.
Davie and Deborah Turness, the BBC’s head of news, both announced their departures on Sunday after mounting pressure over a Panorama documentary that aired shortly before last year’s US election. The programme stitched together excerpts of Trump’s remarks from January 6, 2021, in a way critics said implied he had urged supporters to storm the Capitol—while omitting lines in which he called for a peaceful demonstration.
The controversy fuelled a flurry of political attacks, including from Trump’s press secretary, who labelled the BBC “100 percent fake news”, intensifying scrutiny of the broadcaster’s editorial judgement.
In a statement, Davie said he accepted full responsibility for the missteps and stressed that the decision to leave after five years as director-general was his alone.
“I’ve reflected on the personal and professional pressures of leading the BBC through such heated times,” he said. “I also believe my successor needs enough runway to shape the plans for the next charter period.”
Turness said the row over the documentary had grown to a point where it was undermining the organisation.
“As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me,” she said, adding that she could not allow the dispute to inflict further damage on a public institution she “deeply values”.
Earlier on Sunday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warned the allegations were “incredibly serious”, adding political weight to the fallout that ultimately triggered the leadership shake-up at Britain’s national broadcaster.
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