Senior BBC executives involved in the recent controversy will face questioning by MPs this Monday.
Michael Prescott, who previously served as an external editorial adviser, will speak publicly for the first time regarding his concerns about editorial decisions, particularly the Panorama documentary’s editing of President Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech.
Prescott’s leaked internal memo ignited the crisis, prompting the resignations of director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness.
BBC chairman Samir Shah will also give evidence amid criticism of his role in managing the fallout, together with board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Another former adviser, Caroline Daniel, will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee later on the same day. These figures are expected to face detailed questioning on the BBC’s journalistic standards and how governance failures contributed to the crisis.
Shumeet Banerji, a board member, resigned last week over “governance issues” at the organisation, greatly increasing pressure on Shah. Sir Robbie, a Conservative government appointee with a history as Theresa May’s communications director, is also under scrutiny for alleged editorial meddling.
The controversy stems mainly from the Panorama programme’s editing of Trump’s speech, which was criticised for misleadingly suggesting he incited the Capitol riot. Shah has apologised for the “error of judgement” in this editorial choice.
More broadly, the crisis reflects concerns about political influence and alleged systemic bias in BBC coverage, including in BBC Arabic’s reporting of the Israel-Gaza conflict and on transgender issues.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has voiced worries about how political appointments to the BBC board have damaged trust in its impartiality and has pledged a review as part of the upcoming charter renewal.
Prescott and Daniel, appointed as the BBC’s first external editorial experts in 2022 to advise on editorial risks, play a central role in the investigation.
Meanwhile, Trump has initiated legal threats against the BBC, demanding up to $5 billion over the Panorama edit, accusing the broadcaster of defamation. The BBC has vowed to defend itself vigorously, standing by its journalistic integrity despite the ongoing challenges.