Board backed BBC director

BBC chairman Samir Shah has said that director-general Tim Davie had the “unanimous” support of the corporation’s board prior to his resignation.

In a letter in response to a culture, media and sport committee evidence session, he said Mr Davie, who lives near Henley, had been an “outstanding” director-general.

He said: “It was clear to me over that weekend (that Mr Davie resigned) that the director-general retained my non-executive colleagues’ unanimous support.”

Last month, Mr Davie and news chief executive Deborah Turness announced their exit in the wake of a leaked memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott which raised concerns that a speech by US President Donald Trump, in a Panorama episode in 2024, was selectively edited.

The search for a new director-general is headed by the leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, with the deadline to apply listed as December 31.

The job specification describes the role as one of “the most important, high-profile public posts in the UK”.