Senior figures at the heart of the BBC’s recent turmoil are set to be questioned by MPs on Monday in a highly anticipated hearing before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
The session will feature the first public testimony from Michael Prescott, a former editorial adviser whose leaked internal memo triggered the crisis. The memo, which raised concerns over editorial standards—including a Panorama episode that edited two parts of a Donald Trump speech together—led to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness earlier this month.
Also giving evidence will be BBC Chairman Samir Shah, who faces increased pressure following the recent resignation of board member Shumeet Banerji. Banerji cited “governance issues” at the top of the corporation, a move seen as a direct critique of Shah’s leadership.
The committee is expected to pose tough questions on the BBC’s governance, impartiality, and the events that led to the leadership exodus. The focus will be on the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC), whose members include Shah, Sir Robbie Gibb, and Caroline Thomson. Sir Robbie, a former communications director for Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, has previously faced accusations of political interference in editorial decisions.
Broader Concerns Over Impartiality and Political Influence
Prescott’s memo also highlighted other “troubling matters,” alleging “systemic problems” of bias in BBC Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and one-sided reporting on trans issues. This has fueled a wider debate about the BBC’s future and the integrity of its news output.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has expressed that the perception of political influence is “a problem,” noting a “real concern” that political appointments to the BBC board have damaged public trust. She has pledged to address this in the corporation’s next charter review.
Committee Chair Caroline Dinenage stated that while the departure of the director general was “regrettable,” “restoring trust in the corporation must come first.”
The hearing occurs as the BBC awaits potential legal action from Donald Trump, who has threatened to sue the corporation for up to $5bn over the edited Panorama segment.
By James Kisoo
