A prominent BBC executive has called on her team to show support for their colleagues in the news division, in light of recent criticisms stemming from the Donald Trump Panorama controversy.
Kate Phillips, who is considered a leading candidate to replace Tim Davie as the next Director General, sent an enthusiastic internal memo last Friday to uplift her ‘remarkable’ team. This message came as morale needed a boost following threats from Donald Trump to sue the broadcaster for as much as $5 billion after an admission that his speech footage was altered.
In an email obtained by the Mail, which followed the resignations of Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness, Phillips expressed her gratitude: “Well, we got through the week.
“Thank you so much to everyone who’s been in touch,” she continued. “I’ve really appreciated your honesty, and it’s clear how deeply you care about the BBC and your work. There is, of course, understandable upset and frustration about what has transpired. I share those feelings.”
‘Thank you so much to everyone who’s been in touch.
‘I’ve really appreciated your candour, and what has come through loud and clear is how passionately you care about the BBC and the work you do, but also the understandable upset and frustration at what has happened. I feel the same.’
BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips sought to boost morale praising ‘incredible’ staff after Tim Davie resignation
Donald Trump has threatened to sue for $5billion after BBC Panorama broadcast doctored footage of his speech
She picked up on Lisa Nandy’s address to Parliament where the Culture Secretary ‘highlighted the danger of sustained attacks against the BBC’.
‘Of course we’re always utterly accountable, and concerns over editorial failings should always be raised,’ Ms Phillips wrote.
‘But that should be in the spirit of making the best public service broadcaster in the world even better.
‘As Tim said on the all-staff call earlier this week, these times are difficult for all of us, but if we make the case for the BBC and focus on delivering for audiences we will get through them – and we will thrive.’
Ms Phillips praised the BBC as providing ‘the best journalism in the world’, adding: ‘Our friends and colleagues in News are doing an extraordinary job – please take a moment to check in with those you know there.
‘And if you still have questions, I’d encourage you to keep talking to the senior leaders in your areas.’
Earlier in the week, Phillips had fired off an effusive email praising Mr Davie for his ‘extraordinary service’ saying: ‘I’ve not known anyone who has worked harder, under more pressure, and remained so resilient.’
Director General Tim Davie resigned over the scandal last week
In it, she also heaped endless praise on staff across the corporation – something she acknowledged in her latest missive on Friday.
‘Finally, I’m conscious I used the word ‘incredible’ a lot in my last email (fired off fast because I wanted to reach out to you all asap),’ she wrote.
‘But that’s because as a department I do think we’re bloody incredible, and I’m incredibly proud to work alongside you all.’
Ms Phillips has been responsible for commissioning hit shows including The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing and was promoted from director of unscripted to chief content officer last year.
Announcing the move, Mr David praised her for ‘a fantastic record of delivering creative hits which embody the best of the BBC.’
The BBC’s culture and media editor last week described Ms Phillips as ‘the likely internal frontrunner’ to take over as Director General.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls ‘to stand up for Britain’ and persuade Donald Trump not to sue the corporation for billions of pounds.
Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to call Donald Trump and is under pressure to persuade the US President not to sue the BBC
On Friday night, the US President said he would seek up to $5billion (£3.8billion) in damages over the broadcaster’s misleading editing of one of his speeches.
The BBC has apologised but declined to pay him damages, setting the scene for a high-profile legal showdown.
Figures including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, former BBC chairman Lord Patten, and former Tory Culture Secretary Sir John Whittingdale called on Sir Keir to prevent the affair going to court.
Mr Trump is expected to launch his lawsuit in Florida. The Panorama film which contained the edit appearing to show him inciting Capitol Hill protesters to violence on January 6, 2021, was not available in the US, but experts believe the case could still come before a jury, which is likely to be sympathetic to the President.
BBC chairman Samir Shah last week sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for the editing, but this has not been enough to satisfy the President.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
