Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, has resigned, along with the CEO of BBC News, Deborah Turness. This comes as the corporation faces an impending apology on Monday due to concerns over impartiality, particularly regarding the editing of a speech by former US President Donald Trump in a Panorama episode. The controversy revolves around the splicing of clips from Trump's January 6, 2021, speech, which was edited to make it seem as if he told supporters he would walk to the US Capitol with them to 'fight like hell' in the documentary 'Trump: A Second Chance?' The documentary was broadcast by the BBC the week before the 2020 US election. In a message to staff, Davie attributed his decision to the current debate around BBC News, acknowledging the corporation's overall performance while also recognizing the mistakes made and the need for accountability as the Director-General. The Telegraph reported that a memo from a former external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee raised concerns about impartiality and other issues in the summer. Davie, who joined the BBC in 2005 after a career in marketing and finance, previously served as acting director-general from 2012 to 2013. During his tenure, he navigated several high-profile controversies, including a row over Gary Lineker's political views, Huw Edwards' conviction for indecent images of children, and the BBC's controversial broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury. The news of Davie's resignation comes as the BBC addresses concerns over impartiality, with the potential for further updates as the situation develops.
