Two senior executives at the BBC have resigned amid allegations of significant bias in the broadcaster's news coverage. The resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness were announced on Sunday, following increasing scrutiny of the BBC's editorial practices, particularly regarding the editing of a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The controversy began last week when a dossier detailing impartiality concerns was leaked to the media. This internal memo, sent to the BBC's editorial standards board, raised alarms about the corporation's handling of various news topics, including the U.S. presidential election and issues of race and gender. The memo was authored by Michael Prescott, a former independent advisor to the board, who expressed deep concerns about the BBC's failure to address bias in its reporting.

The specific incident that triggered the backlash involved a documentary titled "Trump: A Second Chance?" which aired shortly before the presidential election. The program included an edited clip of Trump’s speech from January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol riots. Critics argued that the editing misrepresented Trump's words, suggesting he incited violence when he did not explicitly call for his supporters to march on the Capitol.

Prescott's memo stated that the edited clip "materially misled viewers" and distorted the timeline of events surrounding the Capitol attack. He noted that the BBC's editorial guidelines were not followed, as the editing created a misleading impression of Trump's remarks and the actions of his supporters.

In the wake of the memo's publication, the BBC faced mounting criticism from various quarters, including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who called for Davie to either explain the situation or resign. Johnson also threatened to stop paying the BBC license fee. Additionally, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled the BBC as "100 percent fake news," accusing it of being a "leftist propaganda machine."

Davie and Turness announced their resignations via email to BBC staff, stating that the ongoing debate about the BBC's news coverage had influenced their decisions. In his statement, Davie acknowledged that while the BBC is not perfect, it must remain accountable and transparent. He expressed hope for a rational public discussion about the future of the BBC.

Turness emphasized the need for accountability in public life, stating that the controversy had reached a point where it was damaging to the BBC. She maintained that while mistakes had been made, claims of institutional bias were unfounded.

BBC Chair Samir Shah thanked both executives for their leadership and reassured staff that the organization would continue to provide high-quality public service broadcasting. The BBC Board will now begin the process of appointing a new director general, a task that has its own complexities given the board's previous controversies. The chair and non-executive members are appointed by King Charles on the recommendation of government ministers, adding another layer to the ongoing situation.