Overview
- Shumeet Banerji published a resignation letter saying he was not consulted on decisions preceding the exits of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness and calling the board’s stance “incomprehensible.”
- Mark Damazer, a former deputy director of BBC News, described a “toxic mix” of over-assertive board members and embattled executives as a key factor in the leadership departures.
- Damazer said Robbie Gibb should have recused himself on Middle East-related reviews given his past beneficial ownership of the Jewish Chronicle, while Gibb told MPs he had no editorial role there.
- Chair Samir Shah told MPs he held a 26‑minute call consulting Banerji and expressed surprise at the claim, as critics including former ITN chief Stewart Purvis condemned a week-long delay in the BBC’s response.
- The crisis followed a leaked memo from adviser Michael Prescott and a disputed Panorama edit of President Trump’s January 6 speech, after which Trump threatened to sue the BBC for up to $5 billion.