Senior officials at the BBC will be questioned by MPs on Monday in what is expected to be one of the most significant public hearings on the broadcaster’s editorial governance in years. The session follows a turbulent period for the corporation, triggered by a leaked memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott, which led to the resignations of director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness earlier this month. Prescott, who criticised the BBC’s handling of a Panorama edit of a Donald Trump speech, will speak publicly for the first time when he appears before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Prescott’s internal memo raised concerns about BBC reporting practices, including the editing of Trump’s 6 January 2021 speech, which put the broadcaster at the centre of political controversy. The memo also highlighted what he described as “systemic problems” of bias in BBC Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and imbalanced reporting on gender and trans issues. His concerns were leaked to the press, sparking a chain of events that culminated in Davie and Turness stepping down amid growing pressure.
BBC Leadership Under Pressure Over ‘Governance Issues’
MPs will also question BBC chairman Samir Shah, who has faced criticism over his handling of the crisis, along with board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. The hearing has gained further urgency following the resignation of board member Shumeet Banerji on Friday, who quit over what he described as “governance issues” at the top of the organisation. BBC media editor Katie Razzall said the timing “looks like a direct critique” of Shah and makes Monday’s appearance “even more critical” for the chairman.
Concerns Over Political Influence and Editorial Independence
The controversy has reignited a broader national debate about the BBC’s impartiality. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the perception of political influence within the corporation is “a problem”, warning that political appointments to the BBC board have undermined public confidence. She pledged to review governance arrangements as part of the forthcoming BBC charter review. Sir Robbie Gibb—appointed by the Conservative government in 2021—faces particular scrutiny due to allegations of intervening in editorial decisions. He currently sits on the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) alongside Shah, Thomson and the now-departed Davie.
Committee to Examine BBC Oversight Processes
The parliamentary committee has confirmed that Monday’s session will focus on how the EGSC oversees editorial standards and ensures compliance across BBC output. Prescott and fellow former adviser Caroline Daniel, both appointed in 2022 as the BBC’s first external editorial experts, will provide their accounts of internal discussions on “editorial risks and issues”. Their testimony is expected to shed new light on the handling of Trump-related coverage and the broader concerns raised in the leaked memo.
BBC Plans Structural Reform Amid Threat of Trump Lawsuit
According to reports in the Guardian, the BBC is considering expanding the EGSC and creating a new deputy director general role—changes understood to be part of wider internal reforms. While the corporation has not commented publicly, such reforms would follow months of crises involving editorial accuracy, political pressure, and public trust. The broadcaster also awaits a decision on whether Donald Trump will proceed with legal action after threatening to sue the BBC for between $1bn and $5bn over the Panorama edit.
UK Government Pressure and Public Trust Concerns
The past year has seen increasing scrutiny of the BBC from across the political spectrum, alongside falling levels of public trust in major UK news institutions. Ministers have pushed the corporation to demonstrate greater transparency over editorial decisions, while MPs from multiple parties have accused the BBC of failing to manage political influence within its senior ranks. Monday’s hearing is expected to play a significant role in shaping the government’s approach to BBC oversight ahead of the next charter review.
