Full assertion as BBC director normal Tim Davie resigns after Trump speech doctored

Director-general Tim Davie has resigned from the BBC, the corporation has announced.

BBC chairman Samir Shah has said it “is a sad day for the BBC” following Tim Davie’s resignation.

In the full statement he said: “Tim has been an outstanding director-general for the last five years. He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.

“He has had the full support of me and the board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision today. The whole board respects the decision and the reasons for it.

“Tim has given 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a devoted and inspirational leader and an absolute believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. He has achieved a great deal. Foremost, under his tenure, the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges in a world of unprecedented change and competition is well under way.

“Personally, I will miss his stamina, good humour and resilience and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the very best for the future.

“This is an important time for the corporation and the board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.”

This afternoon Tim Davie sent the following note to staff: “I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years. This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the Chair and Board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.

“I am working through exact timings with the Board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.

“I have been reflecting on the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times, combined with the fact that I want to give a successor time to help shape the Charter plans they will be delivering.

“In these increasingly polarised times, the BBC is of unique value and speaks to the very best of us. It helps make the UK a special place; overwhelmingly kind, tolerant and curious. Like all public organisations, 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. Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility.

“Our organisation is a critical ingredient of a healthy society, as well as a thriving creative sector. We should champion it, not weaponise it.

“Despite a hugely competitive market, I am proud that the BBC remains the most trusted news brand globally. We have continued to ensure that it is used by almost everyone in the UK as well as hundreds of millions of people globally. Despite the inevitable issues and challenges, our journalism and quality content continues to be admired as a gold standard.

“Our transition to a digital organisation has been deeply impressive, and our thriving commercial businesses are admired globally. Also, our work together on ensuring that we have the right culture has been important and motivating. I could not be more impressed by what you are achieving.

You will ask why now, why this moment?

I am BBC through and through, having spent the last 20 years of my life working for this organisation as Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences, Director of Audio and Music, acting Director-General and Chief Executive of BBC Studios. I care deeply about it and want it to succeed. That is why I want to create the best conditions and space for a new DG to come in and positively shape the next Royal Charter. I hope that as we move forward, a sensible, calm and rational public conversation can take place about the next chapter of the BBC.

This timing allows a new DG to help shape the next Charter. I believe we are in a strong position to deliver growth.

Thank you again, it has been a wonderful ride, which I have loved. I count myself very lucky to have served as DG no.17. I will have a proper chance to see many of you before I go but I have been incredibly proud to lead the BBC as DG for over five years. It is a precious UK institution and you are a world-class team. Thank you all for the tireless support and friendship.

I will always be a passionate cheerleader for civilised society, a strong BBC and a thriving UK.

It comes a committee of MPs has written to the BBC’s chairman demanding information about the way a speech by Donald Trump was edited in an episode of Panorama.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the corporation had “serious questions to answer” over a report which claims that viewers were misled in a clip on the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? which was broadcast by the BBC the week before last year’s US election.

The programme spliced clips together from sections of the US president’s speech on January 6 2021 to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.

The committee has asked BBC chairman Samir Shah what actions he will take to address the specific concerns raised and to request a copy of the memo on impartiality by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee.

Dame Caroline, who signed the letter on behalf of the committee, said: “The BBC clearly has serious questions to answer regarding both its editorial standards and the way in which concerns are handled by senior management.

“The corporation must set the benchmark for accurate and fair reporting, especially in a media landscape where it is all too easy to find news presented in a less than impartial way.

“The committee needs to be reassured that those at the very top of the BBC are treating these issues with the seriousness they deserve and taking decisive steps to uphold the corporation’s reputation for integrity and public trust.”
The BBC said it will respond to the committee’s letter directly.
A BBC spokesperson said: “While we don’t comment on leaked documents, when the BBC receives feedback it takes it seriously and considers it carefully.

“Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee where differing views and opinions of our coverage are routinely discussed and debated.”

Downing Street said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and senior officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have received a copy of the memo and have been “assured” by the BBC that the broadcaster will be examining the issues raised in the report.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters on Tuesday: “Fundamentally, it’s crucial that the BBC upholds the highest standards of reporting and impartiality, so it’s trusted as our national broadcaster.

“We take any criticisms of the BBC’s editorial standards very seriously. We expect the BBC to consider feedback that they receive seriously too, and carefully.

“Because the BBC is independent of government, it’s for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions.”

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch urged BBC director-general Tim Davie to sack the person responsible for the video.

She told GB News: “It’s absolutely shocking. That is fake news. Actually putting different things together to try and make something look different from what it actually was

“I do think heads should roll. Whoever it was who did that should be sacked.

“This is a corporation that needs to hold itself to the highest standards, and that means that when we see people doing the wrong thing, they should be punished, they should be sacked.”

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