BBC in crisis: key questions to answer as Commons select committee meets

"The BBC has been plunged into crisis by the sudden resignation of its director general, Tim Davie, and the head of news, Deborah Turness. Their departure followed a disagreement over how to respond to a memo from its former external adviser Michael Prescott, in which he claimed there were serious and systemic problems at the corporation. He alleged liberal bias in its coverage of the US election, Gaza and racial diversity and transgender issues."

"MPs on the culture, media and sport committee will examine Prescott's claims on Monday. They will hear from Prescott and Robbie Gibb, the Conservative-supporting BBC board member accused of raising repeated claims of liberal bias. They will appear alongside the Samir Shah, the BBC chair, Caroline Daniel, who was an external adviser alongside Prescott, and Caroline Thomson, another BBC board member."

The BBC experienced a leadership crisis after director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness resigned following a dispute over a memo from former external adviser Michael Prescott. Prescott alleged serious, systemic problems including liberal bias on US election coverage, Gaza, racial diversity and transgender issues. The departures triggered talk of a rightwing coup, board splits and operational delays. MPs on the culture, media and sport committee will examine Prescott's claims and hear from Prescott, Robbie Gibb, BBC chair Samir Shah, Caroline Daniel and Caroline Thomson. The BBC has apologised for one edit raised in the memo, while Shah described the memo as partial and personal.

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