Senior figures have praised BBC Director-General Tim Davie following his decision to step down after five years leading the corporation through a period of significant change and scrutiny.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, thanked him for his leadership, saying he had guided the BBC “at a time of great change and challenge.”
She said the broadcaster remains “a strong and valued part of our media landscape” and urged the BBC Board to reflect on how it will “continue to deliver for UK audiences.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also paid tribute to Davie’s service to public broadcasting, recognising his role in steering the BBC through recent challenges. “He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years,” she said.
Lisa added that the government would support the BBC Board as it manages the transition to new leadership and that the forthcoming Charter Review would be an opportunity to help the corporation adapt “to this new era.”
She said the BBC “tells the story of who we are—the people, places and communities that make up life across the UK” and described trusted news and quality programming as “essential to our democratic and cultural life.”
Davie’s departure marks a turning point for the broadcaster as it continues to evolve in a fast-changing media environment. The BBC Board will now begin the process of selecting his successor.
Radio commentator and Boom Radio co-founder David Lloyd has written a personal reflection about the move.
David says Tim faced constant pressure in what he calls an “unmanageable” role, where “no moment is your own” and every weekend brings a new crisis. He praises Tim’s integrity, resilience and dedication but questions whether the BBC’s size and structure make it possible for any one person to run effectively.
David expresses strong support for the BBC, calling it “one of the truly marvellous things about the United Kingdom”, but says the organisation has become “dysfunctional” and weighed down by bureaucracy. He argues that the BBC’s remit to “do everything for everybody” is no longer realistic and that the next Charter period should redefine its role in a changing media environment.
He also criticises Ofcom’s regulatory model as “not suited for judging what is high quality distinctive programming,” saying stronger, more creative oversight is needed to support future leadership.
Turning to radio, David lays part of the blame for the decline of BBC Local Radio at Tim’s door, suggesting it was “never top of his list” and that the network has failed to protect local democracy and community representation.
Despite his criticisms, David’s tone remains respectful and reflective. He says he hopes Tim can now take time to rest and take pride in what he achieved, adding that his leadership years would make a compelling drama.
In addition, BBC Chair Samir Shah’s has written to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
In the letter to Committee Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Samir praised both leaders for their “unwavering support and commitment” to the corporation, describing Tim as “an exceptional Director-General and leader not just of the BBC but of the UK creative industries” and Deborah as “an outstanding leader of BBC News.” He confirmed the BBC Board is committed to ensuring “a smooth transition” as the search begins for a new Director-General.
In a detailed follow-up letter, Samir addressed recent concerns raised by former BBC advisor Michael Prescott over editorial practices and impartiality, insisting that “the BBC has taken significant action over the past three years” and that coverage suggesting inaction “is simply not true.”
He outlined several measures to strengthen editorial standards, including the restructuring of the BBC Arabic service, the appointment of new editorial quality leaders, and a forthcoming re-engineering of the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) to ensure quicker and more robust oversight of BBC output.
Samir also confirmed the BBC has accepted that the editing of a clip of former US President Donald Trump’s January 6th speech in a Panorama programme “gave the impression of a direct call for violent action,” adding that “the BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement.”
He pledged that every item raised in Michael Prescott’s note will be revisited and publicly reported, with the BBC Board committing to further action where necessary.
Concluding his letter, Samir reaffirmed his commitment to impartial journalism: “There is an increasing need for the public to be informed in a way that is impartial, truthful and based on evidence they can trust. That is the sacred job of the BBC.”
Among the others to comment, Nigel Farage said the BBC “has been institutionally biased for decades” and insisted this moment must be “the start of wholesale change.”
On the other side of the aisle, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called Davie’s departure a “chance for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust” and cautioned against those “who want to destroy it.”
Committee Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said the resignations were “regrettable” but necessary, stressing that “restoring trust in the corporation has got to come first.”
Former Sun editor David Yelland described the events as “a coup … an inside job,” claiming there were longstanding internal tensions at the BBC that precipitated the exits.
Elsewhere, staff sources said BBC employees were “euphoric” about the change, suggesting that many viewed Davie’s tenure as unable to manage the size and complexity of the organisation.
For the UK radio industry, the developments at the BBC raise questions about how public service broadcasting will evolve — including how the BBC’s audio operations and local radio services might be reshaped.
The intensity of the spotlight on editorial oversight and funding models means commercial and independent stations will expect shifts in how the BBC positions itself.
Broadcasters and regulators will now watch the next appointment closely, and the incoming Director-General will inherit not just a staff reshuffle but a mandate to restore public trust.
This story first appeared on radiotoday.co.uk