Overview
- Director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness resigned following a leaked memo alleging a misleading edit in a 2024 Panorama episode about President Donald Trump.
- Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy plans to launch the BBC charter review before Christmas, with a comprehensive look at governance and part-subscription funding options to restore trust and secure revenues.
- Projections tied to recent CPI figures point to a 2026 licence fee of roughly £180–£181, though DCMS says the final level will be confirmed in due course.
- BBC data show about 300,000 fewer households paying the fee, taking active licences to 23.8 million and intensifying concerns over evasion and lost income.
- Political pressure is escalating as Reform UK pledges to scrap the fee in favor of subscription, Downing Street backs a sustainable model for a strong BBC, and President Trump threatens a $1bn lawsuit over the Panorama edit unless a retraction is issued.