The BBC's director general, Tim Davie, and news division chief Deborah Turness have stepped down following accusations from a former corporation adviser that the broadcaster demonstrated "serious and systemic" bias across coverage of Donald Trump, Gaza, and transgender issues, according to The Guardian.
Davie characterized his exit as "entirely my decision" in an announcement that sent shockwaves through the broadcasting organization, with the resignation coming as BBC leadership prepares to issue an apology regarding editorial handling of a Trump address.
The dual departures represent a critical juncture for the broadcaster as it enters crucial negotiations with government officials regarding its institutional future and financial structure. British media now faces the challenge of filling two of its most prominent executive positions. BBC chairman Samir Shah is anticipated to apologize for the editorial approach taken with Trump's speech in a Panorama broadcast.
The Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee had established a Monday cutoff for the BBC to address allegations presented by Michael Prescott, who had previously served as an independent external adviser to the broadcaster's editorial guidelines and standards committee before departing that role during the summer months.
Prescott challenged the editorial treatment of Trump's address in a Panorama episode that combined clips from a speech the US president delivered on January 6, 2021. The edited sequence suggested Trump instructed the crowd: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol and I'll be there with you, and we fight. We fight like hell."
Those words originated from speech portions separated by nearly an hour. The editorial decision has generated criticism from Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, who characterized the corporation over the weekend as "100% fake news" and a "propaganda machine." Leavitt appeared to mark the departures favorably on Sunday night, referencing on X her objections to the BBC's handling of the US president's address.
Shot: Chaser: pic.twitter.com/n0U08PnUJb
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) November 9, 2025
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that "very dishonest people" had "tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election," stating: "On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for democracy!"
Davie informed staff in a message that he maintained the "unswerving and unanimous support" of the BBC's board and chairman Samir Shah throughout the controversy, The Guardian noted. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the current accusations influenced his decision. "Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable," Davie stated.
"While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision. Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director general I have to take ultimate responsibility," he added. Davie's exit follows repeated criticism the BBC received regarding comments from former presenter Gary Lineker, the livestreaming of the Glastonbury festival performance by anti-Israel rap punk duo Bob Vylan, and multiple controversies surrounding Israel-Hamas war reporting.
The resignations of Davie and Turness appear designed to shield the BBC from additional attacks following Prescott's criticisms, which he detailed in correspondence to the BBC board.
The Prescott correspondence, provided to The Daily Telegraph, also condemned BBC Arabic for its coverage of the Gaza war, which excluded stories criticizing Hamas and accounts of Israeli suffering, including kidnapped hostages. The letter also criticized a documentary featuring narration by a Hamas official's child and the broadcaster's use of contributors who had expressed antisemitic perspectives. One featured contributor had previously posted online that Jews should be burned "as Hitler did," with the BBC stating he should not have been featured in that manner. A separate featured contributor had characterized Jews online as "devils," The Guardian reported. The BBC indicated in May that this individual had been prohibited from future contributor roles.
