The United Kingdom government is set to review the BBC’s Royal Charter following a major scandal involving the editing of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech — a controversy that has led to the resignation of the broadcaster’s top executives.
BBC Director General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday after facing backlash over a Panorama documentary accused of misleadingly editing Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech — an edit that suggested he directly incited the U.S. Capitol riot.
The fallout has sparked a leadership crisis at the world-renowned broadcaster, with BBC Chair Samir Shah describing it as a “sad day for the BBC.” Shah is expected to appear before the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media, and Sport Committee on Monday to address the matter.
The BBC is reportedly preparing to issue a public apology, acknowledging that sections of the Trump footage were edited in a manner that misrepresented his remarks. The controversy has reignited long-standing debates over the BBC’s impartiality and editorial standards.
While Trump celebrated the resignations, calling BBC journalists “corrupt” and “dishonest,” outgoing executive Deborah Turness defended the network, stating that “allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
The crisis coincides with the UK government’s upcoming review of the BBC’s Royal Charter, which defines the organisation’s mission and governance framework. The current charter expires in 2027, and discussions are underway to shape the next phase of the BBC’s funding and accountability structure.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the allegations as “incredibly serious,” adding that the review would ensure the BBC “adapts to this new era” of global media and accountability.
The political response has been divided.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson renewed his threat to stop paying the BBC licence fee, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the resignations, citing a “catalogue of serious failures.”
On the other hand, Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “tell Trump to keep his hands off the BBC,” arguing that Trump’s criticism of the broadcaster is part of a wider campaign to “undermine the world’s most trusted news source.”
This latest crisis adds to a string of editorial controversies for the BBC. Earlier this year, the broadcaster faced sanctions from the UK’s media regulator for a “materially misleading” documentary on Gaza titled “How To Survive A Warzone.”
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have also repeatedly targeted the BBC’s London headquarters, accusing the organisation of biased reporting on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Finding a replacement for Davie could take several months. Known within the organisation as “Teflon Tim” for surviving past scandals, he could not weather the storm of what critics have dubbed the BBC’s “worst editorial crisis in a decade.”
The coming weeks will test the BBC’s resilience — and the UK government’s willingness to redefine the role of its most globally recognised media institution.
