BBC Director General, News CEO Quit Over Trump Docu Edit

The BBC's Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness have resigned following criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by Donald Trump, Aleks Phillips and Helen Bushby reported for BBC News.

U.K. political leaders expressed hope that the resignations would lead to change, while Trump welcomed the decision. (Photo: Richard Kendal, Royal Television Society) 

Davie, who had held the position for five years, faced increasing pressure over a series of controversies and accusations of bias that have dogged the public broadcaster.

The Telegraph published details of a leaked internal BBC memo on Monday suggesting that the Panorama program edited two parts of the U.S. president's speech together so that he appeared to explicitly encourage the Capitol Hill riot of January 2021.

U.K. political leaders expressed hope that the resignations would lead to change, while Trump welcomed the decision. It is unprecedented for both the Director General and the Head of BBC News to resign on the same day.

Announcing his departure on Sunday evening, Davie said: “Like all public organizations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent, and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.”

Turness said in a statement on Sunday night that the Panorama controversy had “reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC,” adding: “The buck stops with me. In public life, leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear that recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”

Turness has been CEO of News and Current Affairs for the past three years.