BBC bosses to be quizzed by MPs about its editorial requirements after furore round ‘deceptive’ Panorama episode about Donald Trump

BBC bosses will be quizzed by MPs today over the corporation’s misleading Panorama edit.

Chairman Samir Shah, board member Sir Robbie Gibb and former editorial adviser Michael Prescott are expected to face a series of questions on editorial standards.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote to the BBC with concerns following the selective editing of a speech made by President Donald Trump before the attack on the US Capitol in 2021.

Director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned in the ensuing fallout, while Mr Shah apologised on behalf of the corporation over an ‘error of judgment’ and accepted the editing of the 2024 documentary gave ‘the impression of a direct call for violent action’.

The committee will now quiz bosses in a session beginning at 3.30pm.

It follows BBC board member Shumeet Banerji’s announcment last week he would be leaving his role.

Mr Trump had threatened the corporation with a billion-dollar lawsuit after the report was made public, while US regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation.

In response to Mr Trump’s threat, a BBC spokesman said: ‘We have had no further contact from President Trump’s lawyers at this point. Our position remains the same.’

Sir Robbie, a former senior Conservative Party adviser, has faced calls for his removal from the BBC board, with creative industries union Bectu saying his position was ‘untenable’.

It added he was perceived by corporation staff as being ‘sympathetic to, or actively part of, a campaign to undermine the BBC and influence its political impartiality’.

Earlier this month, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Sir Robbie, branding him a ‘Conservative crony’ in Commons – but the Prime Minister declined to comment on the ‘the individual runnings of the BBC’.

Sir Robbie, who served as director of communications for Theresa May, has not spoken about the criticism of his board role.

The committee of MPs will also hear from former BBC editorial standards adviser Caroline Daniel and non-executive director Caroline Thomson.

Last week it was revealed a top BBC chief had urged her staff to ‘check in’ with colleagues who work in news following the ‘attacks’ over the Panorama scandal.

Kate Phillips, a frontrunner to succeed Tim Davie as Director General, sent a gushing internal email to rally her ‘incredible’ troops last Friday.

The chief content officer sought to raise morale as Mr Trump threatened to sue the broadcaster for up to $5billion after it admitted doctoring footage of his speech.

In an email seen by the Mail, following the resignations of Mr Davie and Ms Turness, Ms Phillips wrote: ‘Well, we got through the week.

‘Thank you so much to everyone who’s been in touch.

‘I’ve really appreciated your candour, and what has come through loud and clear is how passionately you care about the BBC and the work you do, but also the understandable upset and frustration at what has happened. I feel the same.’

She picked up on Lisa Nandy’s address to Parliament where the Culture Secretary ‘highlighted the danger of sustained attacks against the BBC’.

‘Of course we’re always utterly accountable, and concerns over editorial failings should always be raised,’ Ms Phillips wrote.

‘But that should be in the spirit of making the best public service broadcaster in the world even better.

‘As Tim said on the all-staff call earlier this week, these times are difficult for all of us, but if we make the case for the BBC and focus on delivering for audiences we will get through them – and we will thrive.’

Ms Phillips praised the BBC as providing ‘the best journalism in the world’, adding: ‘Our friends and colleagues in News are doing an extraordinary job – please take a moment to check in with those you know there.

‘And if you still have questions, I’d encourage you to keep talking to the senior leaders in your areas.’