BBC crisis live updates: White House gloats as DG Tim Davie quits over Trump speech row

• The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie has resigned amid a row over the doctoring of a Donald Trump speech for a Panorama episode
• The corporation’s CEO of News, Deborah Turness, has also resigned
• Mr Davie announced his departure from the BBC in a statement this evening where he admitted ‘mistakes have been made’ and said he would ‘allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months’
• The former corporation boss has said he hopes to give the new director-general ‘time’ to help shape charter plans
• Tim Davie’s replacement will be appointed by the BBC board under the terms of the corporation’s charter
• The resignation of Mr Davie follows a number of scandals and accusations of ‘institutional bias’
• Several prominent politicians and organisational figures have demanded fundamental change to the corporation – with some, such as Nigel Farage, suggesting the BBC is now on its ‘last chance’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has warned tonight’s resignations mark the BBC’s ‘last chance’.

He said the government must now appoint somebody with ‘a record of coming in and turning companies and their culture around’.

This is the BBC’s last chance. If they don’t get this right, there will be vast numbers of people refusing to pay the licence fee.’

Deborah Turness, who has also stepped down this evening, was the BBC’s CEO of News.

She joined the corporation’s board in September 2022 following senior roles at other networks like ITN and NBC.

Ms Turness today said the ‘buck stops with me’ and admitted the controversy had ’caused damage’ to the BBC.

But she denied claims the corporation is institutionally biased:

The ongoing controversy around the Panorama on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC – an institution that I love.

‘While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.’

Conservative leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch has said new leadership at the BBC should now deliver ‘genuine reform’.

In a statement on X, she added:

It’s right that Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have finally taken responsibility and resigned from the BBC.

But let’s be honest, this has been a catalogue of serious failures that runs far deeper. The Prescott report exposed institutional bias that cannot be swept away with two resignations – strong action must be taken on all the issues it raised. The culture at the BBC has not yet changed.

BBC Arabic must be brought under urgent control. The BBC’s US and Middle East coverage needs a full overhaul. And on basic matters of biology, the corporation can no longer allow its output to be shaped by a cabal of ideological activists.

The new leadership must now deliver genuine reform of the culture of the BBC, top to bottom – because it should not expect the public to keep funding it through a compulsory licence fee unless it can finally demonstrate true impartiality.’

The following Daily Mail video documents how the trial and tribulations of Tim Davie played out – leading up to his dramatic resignation this evening.

Daily Mail columnist Boris Johnson has been vindicated by the resignation of Mr Davie.

Mr Johnson shared his thoughts in the following video:

Following the resignation of the BBC boss, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has turned his attention to … Nigel Farage.

The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be a chance for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and not give in to those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it.

We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain.’

US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared a gloating post following the resignation of Mr Davie.

Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said:

BBC director-general Tim Davie resigning – good news.

This is the start of the end for the BBC licence fee.

Make it a subscription service and let the British people decide if they wish to fund such woke insufferable guff. I will certainly not be paying.’

The edit did not go down very well, as you can imagine.

BBC bosses broadcast the Panorama programme last year in the run-up to the US General Election.

Mr Trump was seen addressing the crowd on January 6, 2021, saying: ‘We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and I am going to be with you, and we fight, we fight like hell, and if you don’t fight like hell, you are not going to have a country any more.’

However, in his speech, he had said: ‘We are going to walk down to the Capitol, and I’ll be with you. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.’

Responding to the Panorama edit, the White House accused the BBC of ‘100 per cent fake news’.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt added: ‘This purposefully dishonestly, selectively edited clip by the BBC is further evidence that they are total, 100 per cent fake news that should no longer be worth the time on the television screens of the great people of the United Kingdom.’

The Daily Mail video below shows the BBC edit of Trump’s speech alongside the original version.

Today marks a ‘sad day’ for the BBC, according to its chairman, Samir Shah.

The television and radio executive explained:

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 underway.

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.’

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has suggested the BBC must ‘adapt to this new era’ to secure its role ‘at the heart of national life for decades to come.

The Labour minister said in a statement:

I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years.

He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years.’

Now more than ever, the need for trusted news and high quality programming is essential to our democratic and cultural life, and our place in the world.

As a government, we will support the Board as it manages this transition and ensure that the Charter Review is the catalyst that helps the BBC to adapt to this new era and secures its role at the heart of national life for decades to come.’

The resignation of Mr Davie – alongside the corporation’s CEO of News, Deborah Turness – follow an internal dossier this week exposing a string of incidents that demonstrated serious apparent bias in the BBC’s reporting.

A newsroom revolt had also recently taken place after a newsreader who corrected ‘pregnant people’ to ‘women’ while live on air was rebuked.

And the BBC has also faced fierce criticism for its coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and transgender rights.

The dossier, written by former journalist Michael Prescott and sent to the BBC board, raised serious concerns about BBC Arabic’s reporting on Gaza.

The corporation also admitted to breaking editorial guidelines when Bob Vylan’s ‘deeply-offensive’ chant of ‘death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury was broadcast live to millions.

A statement was released tonight in which Mr Davie admitted ‘mistakes’ had been made.

‘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.

Good evening and welcome to the Daily Mail’s live blog as we follow reaction to the dramatic resignation of the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie.