Davie quits as Trump rips into 'very dishonest' BBC

Panorama row also claims BBC News head, Deborah Turness

- ALEX CROFT JOE MIDDLETON

Tim Davie has sensationally resigned as director-general of the BBC after a number of allegations of bias against the broadcaster.

In a surprise announcement last night, Mr Davie said he had to take “ultimate responsibility” for “some mistakes” that had been made at the corporation during his five-year tenure.

The chief executive of BBC News, Deborah Turness, also announced her resignation. It follows a difficult week for the broadcaster, which had been accused of selectively editing a speech made by Donald Trump on the day of the US Capitol riots in an edition of Panorama.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump welcomed Mr Davie’s resignation and lambasted the “very dishonest” people at the BBC.

Trump wrote: “The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th.

“Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt “Journalists.” 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!”

Mr Davie said his departure will not be immediate and that he is “working through” timings to ensure an “orderly transition” over the coming months, while Ms Turness said in her statement that the controversy around the Panorama edit had “reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC - an institution that I love”.

The loss of two such high-profile figures comes at a crunch time for the BBC, as it faces significant funding challenges and intense competition for audiences from online streaming giants, such as Netflix.