BBC chair apologises over Trump speech blunder as broadcaster hit by over 500 complaints

BBC chair Samir Shah has said the corporation would like to "apologise for that error of judgment" over the editing of a speech by Donald Trump for a Panorama documentary. In a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, he also said there have been more than 500 complaints since the publication of the memo that raised concerns about the editing of the speech by Mr Trump. He also wrote: "Since the publication of Mr Prescott's memo, this issue has led to over 500 complaints. These are now being dealt with in the normal way. It has also prompted further reflection by the BBC. The conclusion of that deliberation is that we accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action. The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement."

Concerns have emerged over edited clips from the US president's speech on January 6 in 2021, which were edited together in a way that could suggest he told supporters he would join them in marching to the Capitol to "fight like hell." The controversy led to the resignation of two BBC executives, Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, whom Mr Trump criticised on Truth Social, calling them "very dishonest people". The issue first surfaced through a leaked memo written by Michael Prescott, a former journalist and adviser to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Board.

Mr Shah said the editing of the speech by Donald Trump has attracted "significant attention" because concern was expressed over the way the Panorama episode was edited.

The BBC's editorial guidelines and standards committee was told by BBC News that the purpose of editing the clip was "to convey the message of the speech made by President Trump so that Panorama's audience could better understand how it had been received by President Trump's supporters and what was happening on the ground at that time".

The issue was "considered and discussed as part of a wider review of the BBC's US election coverage, commissioned by the committee, rather than handled as a specific programme complaint, given it had not attracted significant audience feedback and had been transmitted before the US election, so the point wasn't pursued further that that time", he added.

In the letter to the MPs, Mr Shah said: "The points raised in the review were relayed to the Panorama team, including the decision making on this edit. With hindsight, it would have been better to take more formal action."

Mr Shah's letter continued: "I would like to assure you and the Committee that I am absolutely clear that the BBC must champion impartiality." He said this principle is "more necessary now than ever before", and takes responsibility as chair for holding BBC content to "the highest standards".

"I will personally ensure that the BBC continues to take the necessary actions in the future to ensure the BBC retains the trust and confidence of the public we serve," Mr Shah added. He calls impartial, truthful, evidence-backed journalism the "sacred job of the BBC".