London: The BBC’s director-general and its chief executive of news have resigned after the White House accused the national broadcaster of spreading “fake news” in a documentary that included edited footage of US President Donald Trump.
The shock resignations came on the eve of a parliamentary hearing to investigate how the BBC aired the Trump documentary, amid a growing row over claims of political bias on issues ranging from the war in Gaza to trans rights.
Director-general Tim Davie announced his departure on Sunday night in London (5am on Monday, AEST) after news emerged earlier in the day saying the national broadcaster was expected to apologise for the Trump documentary.
“Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as Director-General I have to take ultimate responsibility,” he said.
The chief executive of BBC News, Deborah Turness, announced her departure moments later in an extraordinary development after days of conjecture about the responsibility for the edited video.
“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,” Turness said in a statement to staff.
Tim Davie has resigned as director-general of the BBC.Credit: Getty Images
“As the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me.
“In public life leaders need to be fully accountable, and that is why I am stepping down. While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
Revealing an intense weekend of discussions, Turness said she offered her resignation to Davie on Saturday night, local time.
Reports also emerged on Saturday night that the BBC chairman, Samir Shah, intended to issue an apology on Monday morning, local time, regarding the edited Trump video.
More to come.
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