BBC chief, head of news resign over distorted Trump speech broadcast

The BBC has been rocked by controversy after airing a distorted version of US President Donald Trump’s speech, prompting the resignation of Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness.

The broadcaster confirmed their resignations on Monday (November 10), marking the first simultaneous departure of two top executives in its history.

Davie, who led the BBC for five years, had faced mounting criticism over alleged editorial bias and internal disputes.

According to The Telegraph, internal documents revealed that the Panorama programme edited two separate parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech to make it appear as though he incited the Capitol Hill riot.

Following the revelation, UK political leaders called for reform within the BBC, while Trump hailed the resignations, accusing the network of spreading “fake news.”

In his statement, Davie admitted recent controversies influenced his decision, saying the BBC “must remain transparent and accountable.” Turness cited the Panorama scandal as having reached a point “harmful to the institution.”

The leaked report also alleged biased coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and transgender issues within the BBC’s Arabic and news divisions, further deepening the crisis.