The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has entered a major leadership crisis following the resignation of its Director-General, Tim Davie, and CEO of News, Deborah Turness, after a controversy surrounding a Panorama documentary on former United States President, Donald Trump.
Their resignations follow a leaked internal memo published by The Telegraph, alleging that the documentary deliberately edited two separate segments of Trump’s speech to imply he incited the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot. The memo reportedly also faulted elements of the BBC’s recent news output, raising concerns over editorial standards and bias.
Confirming his decision, Davie said: “There have been some mistakes made, and as Director General, I have to take ultimate responsibility.”
Turness, in her own statement, noted: “The buck stops with me. It’s a difficult decision, but the right one.”
The dual exit marks an unprecedented moment in the BBC’s history. While the broadcaster has previously witnessed the resignation of individual Director-Generals including George Entwistle in 2012 and Greg Dyke in 2004, it has never before lost both its top corporate leader and head of news simultaneously.
Davie and Turness were key figures in safeguarding the corporation’s editorial standards and managing its global news operations across TV, radio and digital platforms. Their departure leaves the BBC to urgently appoint interim leadership as it grapples with heightened scrutiny, reputational damage and questions over journalistic integrity.
Media analysts say the successor administration will face a formidable challenge — rebuilding trust, ensuring transparency, and navigating what is now considered one of the BBC’s most significant credibility tests in recent years.
 has entered a major leadership crisis following the resignation ...){kind=link}