\u201cOur journalists aren\u2019t corrupt. Our journalists are hardworking people who strive for impartiality. And I will stand by their journalism,\u201d she says. \u201cThere is no institutional bias. Mistakes are made, but there\u2019s no institutional bias.\u201d<\/p>\n
Midday: The Chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, releases the long-awaited letter addressing journalistic errors<\/a>, including most crucially, the Panorama documentary which spliced together different parts of Donald Trump\u2019s January 6 speech.<\/p>\n Shah accepts that the edit gave \u201cthe impression of a direct call for violent action\u201d and was \u201can error of judgement\u201d. He apologises on behalf of the BBC. He also details action taken to address errors made on other stories including Gaza coverage.<\/a><\/p>\n Immediately after the letter\u2019s release, the BBC also airs an interview with Shah where he rejects allegations of \u201csystemic bias\u201d<\/a> and \u201canti-Israel bias\u201d<\/a> in the newsroom and says the board is \u201cnot overly political\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n This comes amid reports, including by The Guardian, of a political campaign orchestrated by enemies within the BBC <\/a>to bring it down. Shah says he and the board did not want Davie to resign.<\/p>\n 1.30pm: US President Donald Trump threatens in a letter to sue the BBC.<\/a> His lawyers claim that Trump, who was indicted by Congress for efforts to overturn the 2020 vote, has been defamed by the BBC\u2019s Panorama episode. They issue a Friday deadline to the BBC, demanding the news organisation make amends or they will launch a $1 billion lawsuit. The BBC says it is reviewing the letter.<\/p>\n The Labour government and the Lib Dems have at various points today defended the BBC. Downing St says the BBC is not corrupt not institutionally biased and plays a vital role in the age of disinformation. The Conservatives and Reform say the BBC has shown bias.<\/p>\n 4.30pm: The BBC\u2019s deputy head of news, now temporarily in charge of editorial decisions, sends out an all-staff email announcing a pan-BBC call tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.25 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n A summary of today’s developments<\/p>\n Deborah Turness, the outgoing News CEO, has defended the BBC\u2019s journalism, dismissing President Trump\u2019s attack that BBC<\/a> journalists are corrupt. \u201cOur journalists aren\u2019t corrupt. Our journalists are hardworking people who strive for impartiality. And I will stand by their journalism,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is no institutional bias. Mistakes are made, but there\u2019s no institutional bias.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, releases the long-awaited letter addressing journalistic errors<\/a>, including most crucially, the Panorama documentary which spliced together different parts of Donald Trump\u2019s January 6 speech. Shah accepts that the edit gave \u201cthe impression of a direct call for violent action\u201d and was \u201can error of judgement\u201d. He apologises on behalf of the BBC. He also details action taken to address errors made on other stories including Gaza coverage.<\/p>\n Immediately after the letter\u2019s release, the BBC also airs an interview with Shah where he rejects allegations of \u201csystemic bias\u201d and \u201canti-Israel bias\u201d in the newsroom and says the board is \u201cnot overly political\u201d. This comes amid reports, including by The Guardian, of a political campaign orchestrated by enemies within the BBC to bring it down. Shah says he and the board did not want Davie to resign.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump threatens in a letter to sue the BBC. His lawyers claim that Trump, who was indicted by Congress for efforts to overturn the 2020 vote, has been defamed by the BBC\u2019s Panorama episode. They issue a Friday deadline to the BBC, demanding the news organisation make amends or they will launch a $1 billion lawsuit. The BBC says it is reviewing the letter.<\/p>\n Downing St says the BBC is not corrupt not institutionally biased and plays a vital role in the age of disinformation. The Conservatives and Reform said the BBC has shown bias.<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s deputy head of news, now temporarily in charge of editorial decisions, sends out an all-staff email announcing a pan-BBC call tomorrow.<\/p>\n A BBC board member with links to the Conservative party \u201cled the charge\u201d in pressuring<\/a> the corporation\u2019s leadership over claims of systemic bias in coverage of Donald Trump, Gaza and transgender rights, the Guardian has been told. Sources said that Robbie Gibb, Theresa May\u2019s former communications chief who was appointed to the BBC\u2019s board during Boris Johnson\u2019s administration, amplified the criticisms in key board meetings that preceded the shock resignation of the director general, Tim Davie, and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness. In an article for the Guardian, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, called for Gibb to be removed from the BBC\u2019s board before the search for a new director general begins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.42 EST<\/p>\n On a similar theme to the first minister\u2019s comments, the Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has penned a piece for the Guardian about Robbie Gibb\u2019s position on the BBC<\/a> board.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> When Deborah Turness, the now departed BBC<\/a> News chief, was first invited to a meeting with the corporation\u2019s board a few weeks ago, there was little to suggest it would be a particularly significant encounter.<\/p>\n But instead of a routine meeting, she came under attack over an item added to the agenda.<\/p>\n The lengthy confrontation that followed set off an extraordinary series of events that ultimately ended in her resignation and that of the BBC director general, Tim Davie<\/a> \u2013 and raised questions about politically motivated interference with the corporation\u2019s news operation.<\/p>\n The board wanted to discuss a letter \u2013 and accompanying 8,000-word memo \u2013 it had received from Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC\u2019s editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC), who was making broad claims of bias at the organisation.<\/p>\n The claims, which would later be leaked to the Telegraph and reported prominently over a week, had been sent to the board\u2019s chair, Samir Shah, and the rest of its members.<\/p>\n There were some serious accusations in the claims made by Prescott, once the political editor of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday Times.<\/p>\n Most notably, he described how Panorama had edited together two parts of a Donald Trump<\/a> speech without informing viewers. Other accusations were made over its reporting on Gaza and trans rights.<\/p>\n However, the criticisms were all made from the same political perspective: that the BBC\u2019s reporting on such issues was too liberal and that it had ignored such concerns. Sources said that at the meeting, Turness was \u201con the rack\u201d for more than an hour as Prescott\u2019s criticisms were laid out.<\/p>\n \u201cMake no mistake, this was a coup,\u201d said a BBC source.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sir Robbie Gibb\u2019s position on the BBC<\/a> board is being called into question amid bias accusations at the broadcaster.<\/p>\n Gibb served as director of communications for Theresa May when she was in Downing Street before his appointment to the broadcaster\u2019s board.<\/p>\n The former broadcast journalist served in Number 10 for two years under the former Conservative prime minister and his appointment to the board of the BBC in 2021 was met with criticism.<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s first minister John Swinney said his position \u201cfuels that doubt and debate about the independence and the impartiality of the BBC\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking to LBC on Monday, first minister and SNP leader Swinney said: \u201cRobbie Gibb is a very clearly affiliated party political figure on the board of the BBC.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the BBC wants to be viewed as an impartial organisation that\u2019s authoritative, that reflects the independence of commentary, then I think Robbie Gibb\u2019s position is untenable.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking to the PA news agency, he added: \u201cI quite understand the concerns that are being expressed, given the role and the contribution of some of the members of the BBC board.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever it is in the BBC has got to be able to live up to the standards of impartiality, independence and to be able to give that authoritative commentary and contribution to public service broadcasting, because that\u2019s what we all rely upon the BBC to provide.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Gotcha! The BBC\u2019s enemies have taken two scalps and inflicted maximum damage. The shock resignation of the director general, Tim Davie, and the head of news, Deborah Turness, make it look as if the BBC accepts that it does indeed suffer from \u201cserious and systemic\u201d bias<\/a> in its coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights. But in this political coup, only the BBC\u2019s sworn ideological foes think a cherrypicked sample of journalistic errors amounts to \u201csystemic\u201d bias.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was indeed a bad mistake to splice together two bits of Trump\u2019s speech; but it needed a quick apology, not a decapitation. The BBC\u2019s chair, Samir Shah<\/a>, I\u2019m told, tried to persuade Davie to stay to avoid this apparent capitulation to critics: Davie should indeed have stood his ground, not weakened the BBC by walking away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston wrote on X: \u201cThere are many allegations of the BBC<\/a> failing to deliver on its charter obligations on impartiality – and on it\u2019s failure to abide by its own editorial guidelines.<\/p>\n \u201cThis points to deep rooted problems that go well beyond any one individual.<\/p>\n \u201cThe BBC must undergo a fundamental review to restore trust and ensure it delivers on its founding principles to inform, educate, and entertain.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic confidence and the licence fee depends on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> The editing of Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> speech on 6 January 2021 has embroiled the BBC in controversy, led to the resignations of its top leaders, and given fuel to claims of media bias at the storied British broadcaster.<\/p>\n A dossier from a former external adviser to the BBC\u2019s editorial standards committee flagged the edit, among other instances of purported bias in the outlet\u2019s coverage, which was leaked to the Telegraph. As a public sector organization, the BBC<\/a> is required to be impartial, though it often faces claims of bias, particularly from the right.<\/p>\n In a broadcast of the news show Panorama before the 2024 election, Trump\u2019s speech was edited to put together two sentences that were actually 54 minutes apart, making it appear<\/a> as though he was telling people they would walk to the US Capitol and \u201cfight like hell\u201d.<\/p>\n After Trump\u2019s speech, thousands of his supporters descended on the US Capitol, some of them entering the building and brawling with police to try to stop the electoral count. Five people died within days, marking a violent start to Joe Biden\u2019s presidency.<\/p>\n The scandal had provided Trump another avenue to attack the media, this time overseas, and to relitigate the circumstances of the 2020 election and his attempts to overturn the results. He has threatened legal action against the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting\/FIRED, because they were caught \u2018doctoring\u2019 my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social. \u201cThank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt \u2018Journalists.\u2019 These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!\u201d<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s chair, Samir Shah, called the edit an \u201cerror in judgement\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi is organising a letter to be sent to the culture secretary Lisa Nandy seeking clarification on whether the BBC board prevented a swift apology going out for the Panorama Trump edit and also why Tim Davie<\/a> felt the need to state the BBC shouldn\u2019t be \u201cweaponised\u201d in his resignation letter.<\/p>\n Antoniazzi told the BBC: \u201cI\u2019m not BBC<\/a> bashing \u2013 I want to protect it.<\/p>\n \u201cWith both the director general and the head of news gone and threats of legal action from President Trump, this is a significant moment for the organisation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s up to us as parliamentarians to stand up for a free press \u2013 the fourth pillar of democracy \u2013 and help preserve the BBC\u2019s journalistic integrity at all costs.\u201d<\/p>\n She added: \u201cThis transparency is vital to allow the BBC to move on, and enable its news operation to continue its role providing fair, accurate, impartial news in a deeply polarised world, plagued by misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Key takeaways from events today at the BBC<\/p>\n Frances Mao<\/p>\n A lot has happened today following the shock resignations of the BBC\u2019s director general Tim Davies and News CEO Deborah Turness on Sunday night.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go through things chronologically, to show how it all unfolded.<\/p>\n 9:45am GMT: Deborah Turness, the outgoing News CEO, turns up to the BBC\u2019s London headquarters on Monday morning where she faces the press pack. She defends BBC journalism<\/a>, dismissing President Trump\u2019s attack that BBC journalists are corrupt.<\/p>\n \u201cOur journalists aren\u2019t corrupt. Our journalists are hardworking people who strive for impartiality. And I will stand by their journalism,\u201d she says. \u201cThere is no institutional bias. Mistakes are made, but there\u2019s no institutional bias.\u201d<\/p>\n Midday: The Chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, releases the long-awaited letter addressing journalistic errors<\/a>, including most crucially, the Panorama documentary which spliced together different parts of Donald Trump\u2019s January 6 speech.<\/p>\n Shah accepts that the edit gave \u201cthe impression of a direct call for violent action\u201d and was \u201can error of judgement\u201d. He apologises on behalf of the BBC. He also details action taken to address errors made on other stories including Gaza coverage.<\/a><\/p>\n Immediately after the letter\u2019s release, the BBC also airs an interview with Shah where he rejects allegations of \u201csystemic bias\u201d<\/a> and \u201canti-Israel bias\u201d<\/a> in the newsroom and says the board is \u201cnot overly political\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n This comes amid reports, including by The Guardian, of a political campaign orchestrated by enemies within the BBC <\/a>to bring it down. Shah says he and the board did not want Davie to resign.<\/p>\n 1.30pm: US President Donald Trump threatens in a letter to sue the BBC.<\/a> His lawyers claim that Trump, who was indicted by Congress for efforts to overturn the 2020 vote, has been defamed by the BBC\u2019s Panorama episode. They issue a Friday deadline to the BBC, demanding the news organisation make amends or they will launch a $1 billion lawsuit. The BBC says it is reviewing the letter.<\/p>\n The Labour government and the Lib Dems have at various points today defended the BBC. Downing St says the BBC is not corrupt not institutionally biased and plays a vital role in the age of disinformation. The Conservatives and Reform say the BBC has shown bias.<\/p>\n 4.30pm: The BBC\u2019s deputy head of news, now temporarily in charge of editorial decisions, sends out an all-staff email announcing a pan-BBC call tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.25 EST<\/p>\n Departures ‘due to a political campaign’<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like a coup,\u201d sources from within the News department have told The Guardian. <\/a>\u201cThis is the result of a campaign by political enemies of the BBC.\u201d<\/p>\n The crisis was triggered by a Telegraph report on the leaked letter from Michael Prescott detailing errors made by BBC<\/a> News.<\/p>\n Prescott was previously an independent adviser on the BBC\u2019s senior editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC). He left in summer after three years on the panel, and wrote a letter detailing BBC errors to the BBC board after that.<\/p>\n Our Media editor Michael Savage reports that the departures of Davie and Turness appear to be an attempt to protect the BBC from further attacks following Prescott\u2019s criticisms.<\/p>\n While many BBC figures believe Prescott\u2019s letter referred to some genuine errors, there is also concern that it has been exploited by political opponents.<\/p>\n Some BBC figures have pointed to an effort to shift the corporation politically, dating back to Boris Johnson\u2019s time in government<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Guardian has been told Prescott\u2019s appointment as an external adviser had been pushed by the BBC board member Robbie Gibb, Theresa May\u2019s former communications chief who helped set up the rightwing broadcaster GB News.<\/p>\n Gibb was first placed on the BBC board during Johnson\u2019s time in government. Gibb and Prescott have previously been reported as being friends. Gibb was on a four-person interview panel that appointed Prescott.<\/p>\n Johnson told the Guardian that any suggestion of an attempt to undermine the BBC was \u201ccomplete and utter bollocks\u201d. Prescott said in his letter that his criticisms \u201cdo not come with any political agenda\u201d.<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s chair attached Mr Prescott\u2019s letter in his submission to the parliamentary culture and media committee today. You can read it here.<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile others have also described what happened as politically-motivated. David Yelland, a former Sun editor and now presenter of a BBC podcast, said the departures were \u201ca coup\u201d orchestrated from the inside.<\/p>\n He told the BBC\u2019s Radio 4\u2019s Today programme that Davie and Turness had been systematically undermined by people close to the BBC board over a lengthy period.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.40 EST<\/p>\n BBC to hold all-staff call tomorrow<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s deputy head of news Jonathan Munro has just sent out an all-staff email acknowledging the crises. An all-BBC call will be held tomorrow, and another meeting for News staff on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing events of the last 24 hours, I\u2019m writing alongside the rest of the News Board to acknowledge how difficult this situation is and reassure you that our vital and valued work providing trusted journalism continues.\u201d<\/p>\n He says the coming weeks will be hard but \u201cour trusted, impartial and agenda-setting journalism is more important than ever and must continue as our audiences expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Munro also acknowledges the work of Deborah Turness, the outgoing head of news.<\/p>\n \u201cDetails are still being worked through about what happens next. Deborah\u2019s successor will be appointed and we\u2019ll share everything we can as soon as we know it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.06 EST<\/p>\n BBC concedes Trump video edit gave impression of ‘direct call for violence’<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s chair today admitted an \u201cerror of judgement\u201d in the editing of Trump\u2019s January 6 speech, which has prompted this defamation threat from the US president.<\/p>\n It showed two sections of the speech that were spliced together when they had been delivered an hour apart, and the edit did not note that Trump had also said he wanted his supporters to demonstrate peacefully.<\/p>\n Critics had said the edit made it look like Trump had encouraged the US Capitol attack. ( A reminder to readers that the US president was indeed indicted by Congress, and faced criminal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.)<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s Chair said today that upon review of the complaint:<\/p>\n \u201cWe accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action. The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement.\u201d<\/p>\n BBC News has also issued the same apology in recent hours, adding that there had been no intention to mislead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.31 EST<\/p>\n Yesterday, in response to the resignations of Davie and Turness, Trump had attacked the BBC\u2019s journalism, and praised the Telegraph for highlighting errors.<\/p>\n The rightwing Telegraph last week published a leaked internal report<\/a> by Prescott, a former BBC standards adviser, who alleged failings in BBC coverage on transgender issues, Gaza and the edit of a Trump speech from January 6 during the Capitol Hill insurrection.<\/p>\n Trump wrote on Truth Social:<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt \u2018Journalists.\u2019 These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!\u201d<\/p>\n In showing up at New Broadcasting House this morning, the BBC\u2019s outgoing head of news Deborah Turness defended the organisation\u2019s journalists.<\/p>\n \u201cOur journalists are hard-working people who strive for impartiality and I stand by their journalism.\u201d<\/p>\n She also said there was \u201cno institutional bias at the BBC\u201d, a sentiment also repeated by Chair Samir Shah today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump threatening $1 billion lawsuit against BBC<\/p>\n American media is reporting that the US president has threatened to sue the BBC<\/a> for $1bn (\u00a3760m) if the news organisation does not make amends by Friday.<\/p>\n NBC and Fox News have details of the letter sent to the BBC, which accuses the organisation of making \u201cfalse, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements\u201d in the Panorama documentary edit of Trump\u2019s January 6 speech.<\/p>\n Trump has accused the BBC of defamation in a lawsuit lodged under Florida state law.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums, which have reached tens of millions of people worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cConsequently, the BBC has caused President Trump to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm,\u201d the letter reads, according to Fox.<\/p>\n It demands amends from the BBC and says that: \u201cIf the BBC does not comply with the above by November 14, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages. The BBC is on notice.\u201d<\/p>\n The BBC is yet to respond to Trump\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.33 EST<\/p>\n The National Union for Journalists (NUJ), which represents more than 30,000 members in media, has reacted to the resignations and set out some of the challenges the new director-general will face when they take up the job from Tim Davie<\/a>.<\/p>\n As a reminder, there is no timescale for when Davie will be replaced and a successor has not been chosen.<\/p>\n Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said in a statement<\/a>:<\/p>\n Our members will understandably be significantly concerned at this sudden change in leadership at the BBC, especially with the critical Charter Renewal process due to begin. It has been a torrid time in many ways for BBC journalists as they have navigated their work against a very challenging backdrop.<\/p>\n The new director-general must be politically independent and able to face the increasing challenges posed by financial pressures, AI-supercharged fake news, and efforts to undermine the importance of public service broadcasting.<\/p>\n The new director-general must be able to protect and advocate for the BBC\u2019s universal reach, its unique identity as a globally trusted news organisation, and domestically as a valued public service broadcaster and producer of phenomenally popular programming.<\/p>\n Public service broadcasting has never been more important, and our members remain committed to the principles that have underpinned BBC journalism.<\/p>\n The BBC board has a duty to resist political interference and politicians hostile to public service broadcasting must not be allowed to further their agenda on the basis of these developments.<\/p>\n It is vital that the BBC board ensures that journalists are provided with the resources to do their job. We reiterate our longstanding calls for a properly funded BBC that is free from political interference.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has been asked about the outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie\u2019s resignation in an interview with BBC presenter Matt Chorley ahead of her 26 November budget.<\/p>\n \u201cThe BBC<\/a> is rightly held to high standards and they\u2019ve fallen short on this occasion,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cLessons do need to be learned, but I\u2019ve got a huge amount of respect for the BBC and I know they\u2019ll come back from this.\u201d<\/p>\n Reeves did not comment on Donald Trump reportedly sending a letter to the BBC threatening legal action. You can read more from her interview in our UK politics live blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Former \u2013 and current \u2013 BBC journalists have reacted to the resignations of outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie<\/a> and CEO of News Deborah Turness after accusations that the corporation was failing in its duty of impartiality.<\/p>\n Lewis Goodall, News Agents presenter and former Newsnight policy editor, said the editing of Trump\u2019s speech was a \u201cmistake\u201d even though it may not have \u201cfundamentally\u201d misrepresented the US president\u2019s \u201coverall actions\u201d in the lead up to January 6 2021 and on the day itself.<\/p>\n He added in a post on X<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m no fan of Davie, indeed I think he\u2019s brought a fair bit of this on himself, but the hysteria over this story is on another level.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily Maitlis, who used to present the BBC\u2019s flagship evening news programme Newsnight and is now a News Agents presenter alongside Goodall and Jon Sopel, said <\/a>the story is \u201cfar more complicated than the headline resignations suggest- dramatic as those are\u201d.<\/p>\n John Simpson, who joined the BBC in 1966, warned<\/a> that the BBC is in \u201creal danger now\u201d, saying the corporation is \u201cgoing to need the support of everyone who thinks that public service broadcasting \u2026 is worth defending\u201d.<\/p>\n James Lansdale, BBC News\u2019 diplomatic correspondent, posted on X<\/a>: \u201cAmid all the guff, just this: I am proud to work for BBC News & even prouder to work alongside so many outstanding colleagues. We are not perfect; we must always strive to be better. But in a darkening world, we remain a shaft of light. Worth mulling. All best from Kyiv.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.02 EST<\/p>\n Key lines from BBC interview with Samir Shah<\/p>\n There was a lot said by the BBC<\/a> Chair, Samir Shah, in his televised interview with Katie Razzall, the BBC\u2019s culture and media editor.<\/p>\n Just minutes after broadcast, the BBC also confirmed it had received a letter threatening legal action from US President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the interview, the BBC Chair:<\/p>\n Apologised for the \u201cerror of judgement\u201d made in the Panorama edit of Trump\u2019s speech in the lead up to the January 6 Capitol riots, but noted that the edit had been done to \u201cconvey the message\u201d of Trump\u2019s speech.<\/p>\n Noted that they were prepared for the prospect \u2013 now confirmed \u2013 of Trump litigation.<\/p>\n Denied any \u201csystemic bias\u201d in news coverage, and denied accusations the BBC has an \u201canti-Israel bias\u201d.<\/p>\n Said the BBC board is \u201cnot overly political\u201d.<\/p>\n Stressed repeatedly that the BBC has taken action over the past three years in addressing editorial mistakes and that Prescott\u2019s letter did not reveal new issues, but touched on ones already looked at.<\/p>\n Admitted that the range of corrective action taken might not have gone far enough.<\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Michael-Savage,-L.png\")
Michael Savage<\/p>\n![\"Polly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Polly_Toynbee,_L.png\")
Polly Toynbee<\/p>\n![\"Rachel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rachel_Leingang.png\")
Rachel Leingang<\/p>\n