BBC bosses Questioned by MPs Chief Tim Davie Admits 'Lost Trust' in Gaza Documentary

[Social Media]

 

BBC director-general Tim Davie has acknowledged that he lost trust in a controversial documentary about Gaza, leading to its removal from iPlayer while an internal review is conducted. Speaking before the Culture, Media and Sport select committee on Tuesday, Davie explained that concerns arose over the background of a key individual featured in the film.  

🇬🇧 The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, told MPs that he prevented further broadcast of the film as investigations were underway regarding its narrator’s connections to Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK
📽️ itvnews pic.twitter.com/884J8o3onb

— 🔴 Wars and news 🛰️ (@EUFreeCitizen) March 4, 2025

 

"There were specific concerns – specific questions – about the father of the boy. And as we dug into it, we found out we were not told," Davie stated. He expressed frustration over the situation, adding, "There is a lot of frustration and disappointment. We're very sorry to the audience."  

 

The father is literally part of a family that co-founded Hamas alongside Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin.  In a clan based society he is Hamas royalty.

 

 

Davie continued, "If you're asked a number of times [about the boy's family] and that question was not answered [by Hoyo Films]... that is basics. And at the end of the day, as editor in chief, I have to be secure, not only editorially where the film was at, but the making of that film. And at that point, quite quickly, I lost trust in that film and therefore I took the decision to take it off iPlayer while we do this deep dive."

 

Can the @BBC mark its own homework? This is the question posed by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP to BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah at today’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing. Dr Shah is quick to state that the BBC marked its own homework regarding its recent documentary on Gaza, but neglects to mention that it only launched this internal review after having its hand forced once @mishtal exposed it as a Hamas-propaganda film, leading to a public outcry.

Can the @BBC mark its own homework?

This is the question posed by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP to BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah at today’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing.

Dr Shah is quick to state that the BBC marked its own homework regarding its recent documentary… pic.twitter.com/c9dgoonbvn

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) March 4, 2025

 

The controversy surrounding the documentary has led to calls for a deeper investigation. Ofcom chairman Lord Grade, in a letter to the BBC on Monday, stated that the regulator could step in if the internal inquiry does not provide satisfactory answers.  

 

Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC, told the committee that the broadcaster must be allowed to handle the issue appropriately. "We will get to the bottom of it and take the appropriate action," he said. He described the controversy as a severe blow to the BBC's reputation, stating, "This is a really, really bad moment. It is a dagger to the heart of the BBC's claim to be impartial and to be trustworthy."  

 

Shah revealed that the BBC began questioning the integrity of the film from the moment it aired. "To my shock, I think that we found that there were serious failings on both sides, on the independent production side as well, as well as on the BBC side," he admitted.  

 

The issue has drawn attention from media watchdog Ofcom, which wrote to the BBC to express "ongoing concerns" regarding the "nature and gravity" of the documentary. Shah welcomed the scrutiny.  

 

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are assessing whether any police action is necessary in relation to the documentary.  

 

The controversy has also prompted criticism from the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism. In a statement, the organization accused the BBC of "marking its own homework" and argued that "no other broadcaster would be permitted this latitude, and no other regulated industry would allow this." They also called for the suspension of the BBC licence fee pending an independent investigation into the matter.  

 

The dispute over the Gaza documentary has intensified, raising questions about the BBC's editorial processes and the broader implications for its credibility as a trusted news source.

 

 

Based on a report by Sky News | X  2025-03-06

 

Related Topics:

BBC Could Face Counter-Terror Investigation Over Payments to Hamas Official’s Family

BBC Admits ‘Serious Flaws’ in Gaza Documentary, Apologizes for Oversight

Did BBC Pay Hamas Members To Be In Documentary?

BBC Faces Fresh Backlash Over Alleged Gaza Documentary Cover-Up

BBC Doc Features Son Of Hamas Leader but Fails to Disclose to Viewers

 

 

[JonnyF]

The BBC lost trust years ago. 

 

38 minutes ago, Social Media said:

"This is a really, really bad moment. It is a dagger to the heart of the BBC's claim to be impartial and to be trustworthy."  

 

That heart stopped beating a long time ago, Samir. 

[Purdey]

Understand the Beeb is concerned about the family relationship, but does anyone know what the son said that was inflammatory or controversial?

[jippytum]

Long line of evidence to prove the BBC's  claims of impartiality are no longer credible. 

[klauskunkel]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

Tim Davie lost trust in a controversial documentary about Gaza

"There is a lot of frustration and disappointment. We're very sorry to the audience."  

Wiggle and squirm, semantics and rhetoric, looking for sympathy and avoiding accountability and as always too late and too reactive.

You are a News Broadcaster, you don't deal in "trust", you deal in due diligence.

 

[brewsterbudgen]

Hopefully his days as DG are numbered.  Appointing a Tory to run a national treasure was always going to be a disaster.

[Bkk Brian]

25 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Hopefully his days as DG are numbered.  Appointing a Tory to run a national treasure was always going to be a disaster.

& his boss? Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC.

 

MPs raise concerns over government choice of Samir Shah as BBC chair

MP have raised concerns about Samir Shah as the government’s choice to be the next BBC chair, questioning his ability to “provide robust challenge to its leadership”.

After Shah gave evidence this week to the culture, media and sport committee, the cross-party group of MPs said he did “not sufficiently demonstrate the strength and character that is needed to challenge the executive leadership of the BBC”.

The MPs also said they were “disappointed that Dr Shah was not willing to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board-level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality”. In their report, they said he had not provided an opinion to them on the issue of changes to local radio and cuts to BBC Newsnight.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/15/mps-raise-concerns-over-government-choice-of-samir-shah-as-bbc-chair

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Understand the Beeb is concerned about the family relationship, but does anyone know what the son said that was inflammatory or controversial?

 

   What the son said is irrelevant 

[brewsterbudgen]

22 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

& his boss? Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC.

 

MPs raise concerns over government choice of Samir Shah as BBC chair

MP have raised concerns about Samir Shah as the government’s choice to be the next BBC chair, questioning his ability to “provide robust challenge to its leadership”.

After Shah gave evidence this week to the culture, media and sport committee, the cross-party group of MPs said he did “not sufficiently demonstrate the strength and character that is needed to challenge the executive leadership of the BBC”.

The MPs also said they were “disappointed that Dr Shah was not willing to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board-level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality”. In their report, they said he had not provided an opinion to them on the issue of changes to local radio and cuts to BBC Newsnight.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/15/mps-raise-concerns-over-government-choice-of-samir-shah-as-bbc-chair

Give the man a chance!  He only took on the role on Tuesday!!

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Give the man a chance!  He only took on the role on Tuesday!!

So ignore the warnings from the cross party MP's, got it.

[brewsterbudgen]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

So ignore the warnings from the cross party MP's, got it.

Got what?  I have no idea how good or bad he will be.  He can't be much worse than what came before him.  Davie has been an unmitigated disaster.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Got what?  I have no idea how good or bad he will be.  He can't be much worse than what came before him.  Davie has been an unmitigated disaster.

As I said, ignore the warnings from the cross party group of MP's

 

38 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

 

 

MPs raise concerns over government choice of Samir Shah as BBC chair

MP have raised concerns about Samir Shah as the government’s choice to be the next BBC chair, questioning his ability to “provide robust challenge to its leadership”.

After Shah gave evidence this week to the culture, media and sport committee, the cross-party group of MPs said he did “not sufficiently demonstrate the strength and character that is needed to challenge the executive leadership of the BBC”.

The MPs also said they were “disappointed that Dr Shah was not willing to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board-level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality”. In their report, they said he had not provided an opinion to them on the issue of changes to local radio and cuts to BBC Newsnight.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/15/mps-raise-concerns-over-government-choice-of-samir-shah-as-bbc-chair

This is the man who is in charge who will now be doing a review. More like a white wash is my prediction according to the MP's statements and his lack of leadership.

[brewsterbudgen]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

As I said, ignore the warnings from the cross party group of MP's

 

This is the man who is in charge who will now be doing a review. More like a white wash is my prediction according to the MP's statements and his lack of leadership.

Well the 'warnings' were issued over a year ago, and he took over on 4 March, so presumably the committee were eventually satisfied? 

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

Well the 'warnings' were issued over a year ago, and he took over on 4 March, so presumably the committee were eventually satisfied? 

so presumably the committee were eventually satisfied?

 

Love to see that recorded somewhere....lol

 

His appointment was not by them by the way.

[brewsterbudgen]

39 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

so presumably the committee were eventually satisfied?

 

Love to see that recorded somewhere....lol

 

His appointment was not by them by the way.

 

Yes, Starmer's appointment.  After abysmal appointments by a succession of Tory PMs, I'm hopeful he will be an improvement and will have some role in stopping the BBC's demise.  But Davie has more influence and needs to go.