If Donald Trump destroys the BBC, there would be a horrible historical logic – so here’s who I would pick as Tim Davie’s replacement

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Last week could be remembered as a turning point for British television and radio. On Remembrance Sunday, November 9th, both the BBC and ITV encountered serious challenges that could fundamentally change how they operate.

Following the resignations of top executives Tim Davie and Deborah Turness – who stepped down due to issues with a Panorama episode that inaccurately presented a speech by President Trump – ITV was reportedly considering a £1.6 billion takeover offer from Comcast, the company behind Sky, for its channels and ITVX streaming service.

ITV’s current situation is driven by financial concerns. With advertising and sponsorship revenue declining, its owners likely want to sell the broadcasting side of the business before its value decreases further. For Comcast, the appeal probably lies in the potential to combine advertising and subscriptions across a larger network of both digital and traditional TV channels.

The BBC is facing financial challenges, made more complex by recent issues. It receives significant funding – £3.66 billion annually from TV licenses – but public support for this funding model has decreased, especially after several controversies, and recent events will likely worsen this. Talks with the government about the BBC’s future charter – and how it will be funded – begin next month. However, the BBC is currently unprepared for these negotiations and is also dealing with a legal case in the US.

After demanding a billion-dollar apology and payment, Donald Trump received a limited apology last week (though the BBC maintains any changes to his speech were unintentional), but no money. Trump hasn’t publicly accepted the apology and still threatens to sue for between one and five billion dollars. This creates a difficult situation for the BBC, which must now decide whether to use public funds to defend itself against a lawsuit from a wealthy former president. While fighting the case would satisfy many BBC employees, it could also worsen relations with critics.

As a lifelong film and media fan, I’ve been following the recent drama at the BBC with a lot of interest. It seems like things really came to a head when Nick Robinson on Radio 4’s ‘Today’ program talked about a clear campaign from right-wing groups – newspapers, politicians, and think tanks – to undermine the BBC. And while it’s true some of those groups want to see the BBC diminished or even gone, I think the bigger issue is that BBC News itself is often giving them ammunition to use. They’re unintentionally making the job easier for their critics, and that’s a really worrying trend.

It would be ironically fitting if Donald Trump were to dismantle the BBC, given the organization’s consistent misreporting on US presidential elections. For over a decade, BBC News has significantly misjudged both Trump and his predecessors. In 2016, a BBC journalist prematurely declared Hillary Clinton the winner on election day, assuming Trump had no chance. Similarly, last November, the BBC’s coverage suggested Kamala Harris was likely to win, and perhaps even deserved to win – a biased framing that raised editorial concerns.

It’s natural that many BBC employees likely preferred a female presidential candidate over the former Apprentice presenter, especially given his controversial past – including legal findings related to sexual offenses and perceptions of anti-democratic views. However, journalists have a responsibility to report facts objectively, not based on personal preferences. This issue of letting personal opinions influence reporting has also appeared in coverage of events like Brexit and the Gaza conflict.

For a long time, many at the BBC didn’t treat Donald Trump as a significant threat – though the Americast podcast was an exception. However, the recent repercussions of opposing him demonstrate just how seriously he can respond.

The BBC is facing a growing number of problems. Just as news broke about the possible departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, reports also surfaced that the BBC Complaints Unit had sided with viewers in 20 complaints regarding newsreader Martine Croxall. The complaints stemmed from her changing the phrase “pregnant people” to “women” on her teleprompter and displaying what some perceived as a disapproving facial expression.

Several publications featured or described Dianarama, a recent book examining the 1995 Princess Diana interview with Panorama. An investigation by a retired judge revealed that reporter Martin Bashir obtained the interview using forged documents and misleading information.

The fact that two investigations, nearly 30 years apart, have found serious flaws in the journalistic practices at Panorama – and that Webb’s book has damaged the reputations of former leaders – points to a deeper, systemic problem rather than just isolated mistakes.

Dr. Samir Shah, the BBC Chair, may soon be facing consequences for the BBC’s handling of the Trump controversy. Critics say the BBC reacted slowly and awkwardly after learning about the issue months ago. A key mistake was when Shah publicly labeled Trump “litigious,” which almost certainly guarantees a lawsuit. This could mean he won’t be around to use the BBC desk diary planned for 2026.

Dr. Shah’s comments about Davie and Turness’s departure appear to prioritize the concerns of BBC staff and leadership over those who pay for the license fee. This division within the BBC has been a longstanding issue, and alongside discussions about future funding, the way the BBC is managed and handles discipline will be a major focus during the next Charter renewal, regardless of who is in charge.

If I had the difficult job of leading the BBC, I’d bring in Dorothy Byrne – a sharp and experienced former head of Channel 4 News – as a temporary Director-General for six months. Beyond that, I wouldn’t make any long-term plans.

The problems at both ITV and the BBC could worsen at the same time. If ITV is sold, key leaders like CEO Carolyn McCall and TV director Kevin Lygo might leave. However, the situation at the BBC is so chaotic—and could get even worse—that anyone considering applying for a job there would likely be advised to seek professional help first.

The situation is now critical: no reasonable person would accept what was previously considered the most important position in British broadcasting.

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2025-11-18 17:35