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The unfolding drama commenced with the dissemination of a memo.
This memo, crafted by Michael Prescott, an independent external adviser to the editorial standards committee, made headlines when it was leaked to London’s Daily Telegraph last week.
The controversy centers around a particular episode titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” which aired just a week prior to the U.S. presidential election in November 2024. Prescott criticized the broadcast for appearing to adopt a notably anti-Trump perspective.
The episode, “Trump: A Second Chance?” was broadcast a week before the US presidential election in November 2024. Prescott said it “seemed to be taking a distinctly anti-Trump stance”.
What was the edited clip at the centre of the BBC scandal?
Trump spoke at the Ellipse park near the White House on January 6 while the results of the 2020 presidential election were being certified. Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol.
Celebrating the resignations, Trump accused BBC journalists of being corrupt and dishonest.
What now for the BBC?
The government has committed to upholding the licence fee until the end of the BBC’s Charter period, which expires in 2027.
Outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie said in his resignation letter: “overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made”. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA
Reform UK MP Nigel Farage said “millions” of Britons were refusing to pay the fee.
It is also looking for a fresh head of news — with the departure of Turness, who acknowledged the Trump video edit as a factor in her resignation. Turness though, rejected accusations that BBC News is institutionally biased.
Outgoing head of BBC News, Deborah Turness, said the ongoing controversy around the Panorama episode on President Trump had “reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC” and that it formed part of her decision to resign. Credit: James Manning/PA
But it’s not been enough for Trump, who’s called for more than just heads. He is now threatening to sue the broadcaster if it fails by 14 November to retract the documentary, apologise and “appropriately compensate” the president for what they claim is “the harm caused”.
