Outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie has told staff the corporation will “get through” its current crisis and “thrive”, insisting the BBC is bigger than any one individual as he explained his decision to resign.
Davie’s comments follow his and BBC News chief Deborah Turness’s resignations amid intense pressure over an erroneous edit in a Panorama film on Donald Trump and wider allegations of systemic bias, which have triggered political attacks and the threat of legal action from Trump.
In an all-staff call on Tuesday morning, Davie acknowledged a “tough” and “discombobulating” few days but praised the “support and kindness” across the organisation, stressing that the BBC’s strength lies in the daily work of around 23,000 staff delivering programmes and journalism across the UK and globally. He urged teams to “look after each other” and “stand up for our journalism”, warning of the “weaponisation” of attacks on the corporation and insisting: “We own the narrative… we are a unique and precious organisation.”
Davie reiterated that BBC journalism remains “fantastic” and said trust in the broadcaster has grown, while conceding that mistakes “have cost us” and must be addressed. He framed the current row as a test the BBC has faced before and will overcome by continuing to deliver strong content and rigorous reporting, saying this “speaks louder than any newspaper” or critics.
Addressing his resignation directly, Davie cited three factors: the relentlessness of the job and the need to plan his own future; the importance of giving his successor a clear runway into the next Charter period; and the need to take responsibility for an editorial breach at the heart of the recent controversy. He stressed his decision was “the opposite of easy” after two decades with the corporation, but argued that an orderly transition, working with chair Samir Shah to appoint “someone excellent”, is in the BBC’s best interests.
The leadership upheaval comes as the BBC heads towards Charter renewal in 2027 and faces renewed scrutiny of its governance, impartiality safeguards and funding model.
