Tim Davie RESIGNS as BBC director-general after row over Panorama’s misleading editing of Donald Trump speech: Corporation’s news chief also quits crisis-hit broadcaster

BBC director general Tim Davie resigned following a row over the doctoring of Donald Trump’s speech for the Panorama episode.

The company’s News CEO, Deborah Turness, also resigned following criticism that the BBC documentary misled viewers.

In a statement, Mr Davie said: ‘Some mistakes were made and as chief executive I must take ultimate responsibility.’

It comes after the scandalous broadcaster was plunged into a new crisis this week after an internal dossier revealed a series of incidents that showed significant apparent bias in the Company’s reporting.

The concerns relate to clips of parts of Mr. Trump’s speech on Jan. 6, 2021, stitched together to appear as if he told supporters he would march with them to the U.S. Capitol to “fight like hell.”

‘Trump: A Second Chance?’ The documentary was broadcast by the BBC in the week before last year’s US election.

Mr Trump’s White House has since accused the BBC of producing ‘100 per cent fake news’.

Press spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said: ‘This deliberately dishonest, selectively edited clip by the BBC is further proof that this is completely, 100 per cent fake news and should no longer be worth the time of the UK’s great people on our television screens.

News chief executive Deborah Turness also resigned following criticism that the BBC documentary misled viewers

Following Davie’s departure, Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said: ‘I would like to thank Tim Davie for his many years of service to public broadcasting.

‘He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organization overcome the challenges it has faced in recent years.’

The resignations also followed a riot in the newsroom after a news anchor was reprimanded for correcting the phrase ‘pregnant people’ to ‘woman’ live on air.

The BBC has also faced harsh criticism for its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and transgender rights.

The dossier, written by former journalist Michael Prescott and sent to the BBC board, also raised serious concerns about BBC Arabic’s coverage of Gaza.

The company was already under pressure after admitting it had breached editorial guidelines when Bob Vylan’s ‘deeply offensive’ ‘Death to the IDF’ chant at Glastonbury was broadcast live to millions.

There was a nationwide reaction to the set, where Vylan led the crowd in chanting ‘death, death to the IDF’ and ‘river to sea’ and used the term ‘fuck Zionists’.

The band’s frontman, real name Pascal Robinson-Foster, claimed BBC staff at the event told him they ‘loved’ his set and described it as ‘fantastic’.

Mr Davie was forced to apologize to the House of Commons culture select committee and told staff the broadcast was ‘deeply offensive’ and ‘completely unacceptable’.

Following his departure, Mr Davie said: ‘I will let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years. This is entirely my decision, and I am very grateful to the President and the Board for their unwavering and unanimous support throughout my entire term, including the final days.

‘I am working with the Board on precise timings to ensure an orderly transition to succession over the coming months.

‘I have reflected on the very intense personal and professional demands of leading this role for many years during these heated times, united by the fact that I want to give my successors time to help shape the Charter plans they will deliver.

‘In these increasingly polarized times, the BBC is uniquely valuable and speaks to the best of us. It helps make the UK a special place; extremely kind, tolerant and curious. The BBC, like all public organisations, is not perfect and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not the sole reason, the current debate around BBC News understandably contributed to my decision.

‘The BBC is performing well overall but some mistakes have been made and as Director General I must take ultimate responsibility.’

BBC President Samir Shah said it was a ‘sad day’ for the company.

‘Tim has been an outstanding managing director over the last five years. He moved the BBC forward with determination, determination and foresight.

‘He has had the full support of me and the Board from the beginning. However, I understand the ongoing pressure on him personally and professionally that has led him to make this decision today. The entire Board of Directors respects the decision and its justifications.

White House accused broadcaster of spreading ‘100 percent fake news’

‘Tim devoted 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a loyal and inspiring leader and a firm believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. It was a huge success. Above all, during his tenure the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges of a world of unprecedented change and competition continues apace.

‘Personally, I will miss his stamina, his sense of humor and his stamina and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the best in his future life.

‘This is an important time for the Company and the Board and I will continue to work with Tim in the meantime as we carry out the process of appointing his successor.

The BBC has come under intense criticism in recent weeks for its broadcast balance.

On Radio 4’s flagship Today programme, broadcaster Nick Robinson acknowledged there was ‘a real concern about editorial standards and errors’ at the national broadcaster, but continued: ‘There is also a political campaign going on right now by people who want to destroy the organization you are listening to. Both things are happening at the same time.’

His remarks, later confirmed as ‘absolutely true’ by veteran reporter John Simpson, were swiftly condemned as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘arrogant’ by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Johnson’s promise to cut the license fee over the neutrality issue sparked the outburst.

Reform MP Rupert Lowe said Mr Davie’s resignation was ‘good news’.

In his post about X he wrote: ‘BBC chief executive Tim Davie is resigning – good news.

‘This is the beginning of the end for the BBC license fee.

‘Make it a subscription service and let the British decide whether they want to fund such intolerable negligence.

‘I definitely won’t pay.’

The resignations came after the company’s internal watchdogs condemned news anchor Martine Croxall for correcting “pregnant people” to “women” live on air.

The Executive Complaints Unit ruled on Thursday that he had breached impartiality rules by raising his eyebrow while changing otocue text.

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