BBC director-general Tim Davie resigns from British public broadcaster amid accusations he cheated to viewers by editing out President Donald Trump’s remarks in a Panorama documentary last year.
The program, broadcast in October 2024, assembled fragments of a speech that Trump gave in Washington on January 6, 2021, on the day of the post-election riots at the US Capitol.
The documentary gave the impression that Trump was saying that his supporters should “march to the Capitol” and “fight with all their might.” In fact, he said they should “encourage our brave senators and congressmen.” The phrase “fight with all your might” belonged to another part of the speech.
Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the BBC as a source of “100% fake news” and a “leftist propaganda machine” that was “deliberately dishonest.” Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Davie should “tell the truth” or resign.
In a note to BBC staff on Sunday afternoon, Davie said his decision to leave the organization was partly due to the recent controversy. “Although it is not the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has, logically, influenced my decision,” he declared.
BBC News Director Deborah Turness He also resigned, according to the corporation in a statement.
Davie has been with the BBC for 20 years and was appointed director general in 2020, when Johnson was prime minister. He leaves office at a critical time for the BBCwhich is under pressure to reform its financing structure through the television fee, which is being weakened by the rise of streaming.
Households that own a television must pay an annual fee. New provisions are being considered and will come into force in 2027 under a revised “royal charter”. Davie stated that his decision to resign “allows a new Director General to help define the next Charter.”
“That is why I want to create the best conditions and the ideal space for a new director general to take office and give a positive shape to the next Royal Charter,” he stated. “I hope that, as we move forward, a sensible, calm and rational public dialogue can be had about the future of the BBC.”
The exact date of his departure has not yet been set. Davie cited “these increasingly polarized times” in his statement, adding: “I hope that, as we move forward, there can be a sensible, calm and rational public dialogue about the BBC’s next chapter.”
BBC Chairman Samir Shah called it “a sad day for the BBC” and praised Davie as an “exceptional director general over the last five years.” adding that he will continue to work with Davie during the transition to his successor.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy thanked Davie for “his service to public broadcasting” and stressed that the BBC is “one of our most important national institutions”.
“Now more than ever, the need for trustworthy news and high-quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and to our place in the world“, said.
