In a startling development within the BBC, veteran presenter Nick Robinson has voiced criticism over what he perceives as the organization’s paralysis following the Panorama scandal. This controversy resulted in the unexpected resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, the Chief Executive of BBC News.

During a segment on Radio 4’s Today programme, Robinson articulated his concerns, offering insights into the turmoil shaking the BBC and its urgent search for new leadership. The situation has left the corporation grappling with the sudden departure of two of its most senior figures.

The controversy stems from a contentious episode of the renowned current affairs program, Panorama. An internal report slammed the BBC for exhibiting institutional bias and engaging in censorship, criticisms that ultimately led to Davie and Turness’s resignations.

The scandal erupted over a particular segment of Panorama which manipulated footage of a speech by former President Donald Trump. The program edited two separate clips of Trump’s address, originally delivered an hour apart, creating a misleading narrative.

The segment in question, from the special titled Trump: A Second Chance?, focused on the January 6 Capitol Hill riots. It depicted Trump inciting his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell,” omitting his actual words urging them to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

Concerns regarding the documentary’s integrity were initially flagged by Michael Prescott, a former external advisor to the BBC’s editorial standards committee. His allegations have sparked a significant introspection within the organization, challenging its commitment to impartiality and accuracy.

Last night President Trump branded the broadcaster a ‘terrible thing for democracy’ and said its ‘corrupt journalists’ had been exposed.

In a monologue this morning Mr Robinson, one of the BBC’s highest earners, said these are ‘not normal times’ at the broadcaster as he detailed the scenes from inside this week.

BBC star Nick Robinson accused the BBC of paralysis over its handling of the Panorama scandal

 Mr Robinson gave a monologue on the Today Programme on Radio 4 today following the fallout

He said: ‘Ever since rumours of the resignation surfaced, I have been piecing together what happened that led to this crisis. 

‘Those at the top of the BBC have appeared paralysed last week, unable to agree what to say – not just about the editing of that speech, but wider claims of institutional bias.

‘One source described the arguments ever since Telegraph leaked memo by a former advisor to the BBC Board as “like armed combat”, another alleged “political interference” after what they described as a “hostile takeover” of parts of the BBC.’

The presenter said a statement which was being prepared by BBC News executives, the journalists who run the news division, last week was set to apologise for the mistake.

He said they had agreed a statement saying it had ‘been a mistake to edit together two different sections of President Trump’s speech on the day of the Capitol Hill riots, without clearly signalling to the audience that edit had been made’.

It would have said ‘despite this error, there was no intention to mislead the audience’ Robinson added. 

The BBC Board refused to sign off the statement and are still yet to release a statement about the Trump speech.

It was a leaked report by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the corporation’s editorial watchdog, which eventually brought down the director-general.

Director general Tim Davie quit the BBC last night after five years in the corporation’s top job 

In a 19-page document, he accused corporation of doctoring a speech by Mr Trump and censoring the debate on transgender issues, and said its Gaza coverage had been biased.

Yet the BBC has still not released a statement responding to the allegations made in the leaked document.

Robinson added: ‘The argument which raged on the BBC board ensured neither defended itself nor admitted its mistakes for day after long day after the leaking of the Prescott dossier alleging institutional bias.

‘As criticism mounted from the White House, from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and many others, the BBC merely said that it would not comment on leaked documents, whilst promising the chairman Samir Shah would respond in writing to MPs on the culture, media and sport select committee.’

Mr Robinson then singled out board member Sir Robbie Gibb over his views that the BBC did have a problem of institutional bias. 

He added: ‘A majority of the BBC board appear to agree with their editorial advisor, that there is a problem of institutional bias reflected in that coverage, not just of Donald Trump but of Gaza and Israel and also Trans rights.

‘That argument has been led in particular by one board member, Sir Robbie Gibb – a former BBC executive in charge of political programmes, who became Prime Minister Theresa May’s Downing Street Director of Communications, is one of those involved in the founding of GB News and a supporter of the Conservative Party. 

‘Friends of Sir Robbie insist he has repeatedly and consistently supported Tim Davie as director general and wanted him to stay.’

Donald Trump last night condemned the ‘corrupt’ BBC as he tore into director-general Tim Davie 

Robinson revealed that as the row has continued to paralyse the BBC this week, its board members have still not agreed on the statement which was promised by chairman Samir Shah.

He said that statement may finally be released this morning.

In a final thought to listeners, Robinson said ‘at the time of the transmission of the Panorama film back in 2024, there were no complaints about the editing of Donald Trump’s speech.’

Mr Davie’s resignation brings to an end to a 20-year career at the BBC which saw him rise from director of marketing, communications and audiences.

Since he took the top job in 2020, the corporation has faced many crises, including the prosecution of newsreader Huw Edwards over possession of indecent images of children, the axing of MasterChef presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode, and the airing of a performance of Bob Vylan at Glastonbury, when its lead singer chanted ‘Death to the IDF’.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday night, US President Donald Trump wrote: ‘The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught ‘doctoring’ my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th.

‘These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!’

He also shared a Daily Mail column from Boris Johnson, where the former Prime Minister vowed to withhold his licence fee unless Mr Davie broke his silence on the incident or resigned.

Deborah Turness (pictured in January 2023), chief executive of BBC News, also stepped down

Mr Davie said he wanted to hand over to a new director-general ahead of Royal Charter renewal negotiations with the Government, which will decide the broadcaster’s future funding model.

In a note to staff on Sunday, he said: ‘Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.

‘Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility.’

BBC chairman Mr Shah said: ‘This is a sad day for the BBC. Tim has been an outstanding director-general for the last five years. He has had the full support of me and the board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision. The whole board respects the decision and the reasons for it.’

Ms Turness, who was poached from ITN by Mr Davie three years ago, told staff: ‘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. 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.’

The BBC has been criticised for a number of failings in recent months which include breaching its own accuracy editorial guidelines, livestreaming the controversial Bob Vylan Glastonbury set, as well as misconduct allegations surrounding former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.

Leading politicians have said the BBC must change to rebuild its reputation.

The US President shared a Daily Mail column from Boris Johnson, where the former Prime Minister vowed to withhold his licence fee 

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the corporation needs ‘to turn a new leaf’ while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for “top-to-bottom” reform.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was the BBC’s ‘last chance’, adding: ‘I don’t want to abolish the BBC, I make that very clear, but we cannot have the BBC being seen to be our main national news broadcaster if it cannot perform in a straightforward, simple, unbiased way.’

Government minister Louise Sandher-Jones rejected suggestions the BBC was institutionally biased.

The veterans minister told Sky News: ‘When you look at the huge range of domestic issues, local issues, international issues, that it has to cover, I think its output is very trusted.

‘When I speak to people who’ve got very strongly held views on those, they’re still using the BBC for a lot of their information, it’s forming their views on this. 

‘I think we can all point to elements of BBC broadcasting of news and say ‘well, that reflects my views, and that doesn’t’ and that’s absolutely right, that we should be able to say that.’

Asked about Donald Trump’s comments on the BBC, she said: ‘President Trump will obviously speak for himself.

‘Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have been quite clear that it’s their decision that they’ve stepped down and I note that the board has thanked them for their service and had said that it had supported them.

‘But they’ve, as they’ve said, taken accountability for what the BBC has put out. I think it is very important that public figures have accountability.’