The BBC‘s director-general Tim Davie has resigned amid a row over the doctoring of a Donald Trump speech for a Panorama episode.
Deborah Turness, the CEO of News, has also resigned following criticism that the BBC documentary misled viewers.
In a statement, Mr Davie said: ‘There have been some mistakes made and as director general I have to take ultimate responsibility’.
It comes after an internal memo on impartiality by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, claimed viewers were misled by the programme.
The concerns regard clips spliced together from sections of Mr Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021 to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to ‘fight like hell’.
The documentary ‘Trump: A Second Chance?’ was broadcast by the BBC the week before last year’s US election. Mr Trump’s White House has since accused the BBC of ‘100 per cent fake news’.
After the Telegraph revealed the internal memo, the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee demanded information from Mr Shah and asked what actions he will take to address the concerns.
The departures also follow a newsroom revolt after a newsreader who corrected ‘pregnant people’ to ‘women’ while live on air was rebuked.
The BBC ‘s director-general Tim Davie has resigned amid a row over the doctoring of a Donald Trump speech for a Panorama episode
Deborah Turness, the CEO of News, has also resigned following criticism that the BBC documentary misled viewers
The BBC has also faced fierce criticism for its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and transgender rights.
BBC Chairman Samir Shah said: ‘This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an outstanding Director-General for the last five years. 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 underway.
‘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.
‘This is an important time for the Corporation and the Board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.
Earlier on Sunday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy gave her backing to BBC bosses.
The Culture Secretary said she had ‘confidence’ in BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC chairman Samir Shah as she was quizzed over the ongoing row.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
