The head of the BBC and its director of news resigned on Sunday following rising accusations of bias within the British broadcaster, including controversy surrounding how it edited a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The resignations came as the BBC faced heavy scrutiny after an internal report by a former standards adviser was leaked to the Daily Telegraph. The document criticized the network’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, transgender issues, and an edited version of one of Trump’s speeches.
Trump reacted to the resignations, calling the two executives “very dishonest people.” His criticism followed revelations that the BBC’s Panorama program edited two segments of a speech from January 2021, making it appear as though he was encouraging the Capitol Hill riot.
Tim Davie, who had led the British Broadcasting Corporation since 2020, defended the broadcaster’s reputation, describing its journalism as “the gold standard around the world.” However, Davie acknowledged that errors had been made and said he accepted full responsibility.
Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, also resigned. In a message to staff, she said, “I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
Respected Globally, Yet Facing Domestic Scrutiny
The BBC remains one of the most respected media organizations internationally and continues to rank as the most trusted news brand in the United Kingdom. Its coverage spans news, entertainment, and sports across a wide audience.
However, the corporation—funded through a license fee paid by television viewers—frequently comes under fire from critics and some national newspapers who challenge its funding model and accuse it of maintaining a liberal stance.
The broadcaster has been accused of struggling to maintain impartiality in recent years, with critics from both political sides questioning its ability to navigate increasingly polarized cultural and political debates.
The leaked report found that BBC Arabic demonstrated anti-Israel bias in its Gaza war coverage and that a story about a campaign advocating for single-sex spaces was reportedly blocked by staff who viewed it as hostile to the transgender community.
The BBC has also faced several controversies in recent years. One involved former sports presenter Gary Lineker, who was briefly suspended after criticizing the government’s immigration policy, prompting other sports staff to walk out in protest. The broadcaster was also condemned for airing footage of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan performing an anti-Israeli military chant at Glastonbury, and earlier this year, it pulled a Gaza documentary that included the son of a Hamas government deputy minister.
