Former Question Time host David Dimbleby hits out at ‘ridiculous’ BBC amid Trump controversy
Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has criticized the BBC’s internal culture and said it “needs attention and it always has” following recent high-profile resignations.
Old Question Time The presenter described the ongoing controversy engulfing the broadcaster as “ridiculous” in an interview with Channel 4 News and stressed the need to address the BBC’s culture amid accusations of left-wing bias.
His remarks follow the departure of director general Tim Davie and BBC News managing director Deborah Turness at the weekend.
Their resignations followed allegations that clips of US President Donald Trump’s speech in Washington before the January 6, 2021 riots were selectively edited.
Critics said the footage was released Trump: Second Chance? A statement made by the BBC the week before last year’s US election was misleading and removed the section in which the US president said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Mr Trump has since threatened billion-dollar legal action against the broadcaster over the editing of the Panorama documentary.
Dimbleby, whose father and brother also had careers at the broadcaster, said: “I have no idea why this wasn’t addressed as soon as it was noticed, because it’s clearly a disgrace and it should have been.”
The 87-year-old author described the edit as “ridiculous”, adding: “It had to be corrected at the time and the magazine’s editor Panorama In my opinion, if he had known this was being done, he should have been fired. “This is ridiculous.”
Asked if he believed there was a problem with bias at the BBC, the broadcaster told Channel 4: “I think the BBC culture needs attention, and it always has.
“But I don’t think you can infer that just because people went to university, they’re middle class and they’re educated, they must have a certain political bias, which is what the far right blames the BBC for.”
He also commented on Sir Robbie Gibb’s position on the BBC board being questioned, saying: “You can’t just get rid of people like Robbie Gibb.
“I think he should come out and say what he thinks. I think he prefers to work behind the scenes, but he has to rule the roost in some way or else it will be considered a conspiracy by him.”
“The board cannot allow a conspiracy within the board.”
Sir Robbie served as Theresa May’s communications director while at Downing Street before her appointment to the editorial board.
The former broadcast journalist served at No 10 for two years under the former Conservative prime minister, and his appointment to the BBC’s board in 2021 was met with criticism.
The resignations of two senior bosses at the broadcaster have reignited criticism of Sir Robbie’s conduct; Scottish First Minister John Swinney said her stance “fueled doubt and debate about the independence and impartiality of the BBC”.
Dimbleby started his career at the BBC 60 years ago.
His father, Richard, was the BBC’s first war correspondent before becoming the broadcaster’s leading commentator.
His brother Jonathan also worked for the broadcaster and hosted the political talk show. Do You Have Questions? 32 years.
Speaking to Sky News on Monday evening, Jonathan Dimbleby, 81, described the situation as “an editorial mistake” and added: “I think it was a serious mistake, it should have been recognized and identified earlier, corrected and apologized for.”
“I don’t think it’s an institutional bias.”
