Jonathan Pie: Trump vs The BBC

Nov 18, 2025 | Love or loathe The BBC, recent events have put the UK's journalistic sovereignty in peril.

Very strong language alert!

Donald Trump Says He Intends to Sue the BBC for Up To $5 billion | BBC Newscast

Nov 16, 2025 | Laura and Paddy discuss President Donald Trump’s decision to continue with legal action.

The BBC apologised to the president, saying it had unintentionally given "the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action" and said it would not be broadcast again. However, they would not pay financial compensation.

Chief North America correspondent Gary O'Donoghue joins us to talk about where we are with the legal proceedings, how much Americans care about this issue, and the political impacts after Trump said that Sir Keir Starmer was “embarrassed”.

Trump Says He Will Take Legal Action against BBC, Despite Its Apology

THE GUARDIAN: US president tells reporters he will sue the corporation for ‘anywhere between a billion and $5bn’

Donald Trump has told reporters he will still take legal action against the BBC next week, despite the British broadcaster apologising for a misleading edit of one of his speeches.

On Friday evening, the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One “we’ll sue them for anywhere between a billion and $5bn, probably sometime next week. We have to do it.”

The BBC sent a personal apology to Trump on Thursday, but said there was no legal basis for him to sue the public broadcaster over a documentary his lawyers called defamatory.

The corporation rejected his demands for compensation, after lawyers for Trump threatened to sue for $1bn (£760m) in damages unless the BBC issued a retraction, apologised and settled with him.

The BBC has also agreed not to show the edition of Panorama again. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Saturday, November 15, 2025

Trump-BBC Feud: White House Willing to ‘Bankrupt’ the Broadcaster

Nov 14, 2025 | “When asked if they were willing to quote unquote ‘bankrupt the BBC’, the White House said emphatically yes."

The “war of words” continues as the White House states they are willing to bankrupt the BBC, says US reporter Anita Powell.


I don’t wish to be rude, but does this American reporter need that ring in her nose? It would be so much easier to listen to her speaking without it. I keep having to look away when she speaks. — © Mark Alexander

BBC Apologises to Donald Trump but Refuses to Pay $1bn Compensation | BBC News

Nov 13, 2025 | The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode which spliced parts of a speech together, but rejected his demands for compensation.

The corporation also said it would not show the programme again. Lawyers for Trump have threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£759m) in damages unless the corporation issues a retraction, apologises and compensates him.

The apology comes after a second similarly edited clip, broadcast on Newsnight in 2022, was revealed by the Daily Telegraph.

'He Doesn't Stand a Chance': Simon Marks on the BBC-Trump Case

November 12, 2025

‘Trump Has No Power over the BBC’ | Former Assistant US Attorney

Nov 12, 2025 | “He doesn’t have that kind of power over the BBC.”

The BBC should “fight” Trump as the US president has only previously won lawsuits against US broadcasters because they didn’t wan’t to lose their multi billion dollar mergers, says former assistant US attorney, David Katz.


Trump is having a tantrum again. — © Mark Alexander

‘He’s Angry! He’s Mad!’ Trump Will Not Back Down from Suing BBC for $1bn | Alan Dershowitz

Nov 11, 2025 | “He’s not one that lets these things drop.”

There has to be a “profuse apology” from the BBC to avoid incurring the full wrath of Trump, says lawyer Alan Dershowitz.


Does Dershowitz realise just how HATED his president is? This action against the BBC will make people HATE HIM even more. The man is beyond redemption. Basically, what Trump wants to do is take taxpayers' money to enrich himself even further. Despicable! — © Mark Alexander

BBC Falls to Trump Fascism as Senior Leadership RESIGNS over Standard Speech Editing Controversy

Nov 11, 2025 | The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)—a global symbol of journalistic impartiality—is reeling today after the shock resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness. Their sudden departure follows an internal report alleging “serious and systemic” bias which was leaked and weaponized by Trump and his supporters.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

'Donald Trump Is Undermining the BBC - and Interfering with Our Media'

Nov 10, 2025 | Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey reacts to the resignations of the BBC's director-general and news CEO over questions about bias after a BBC Panorama special spliced Donald Trump's 6 January 2021 speech so it appeared he had encouraged supporters to storm Capitol Hill. Davey defended the BBC and hit out at the US president over 'undermining' the corporation after he called their journalists 'corrupt'.

Trump should keep his nose out of Britain’s business. Trump has FU the USA and now he wants to FU the UK too. No! No! No! — © Mark Alexander

BBC Asks Huw Edwards to Return the Salary He Was Paid After His Arrest

Aug 9, 2024 | The BBC has asked Huw Edwards to return the salary he was paid during the period following his arrest in November last year, after his guilty plea to charges of having indecent images of children.

Read the full story here.

THE GUARDIAN: BBC asks disgraced presenter Huw Edwards to return £200,000 of salary: Corporation says journalist brought BBC ‘into disrepute’ and requests return of money paid since his arrest »

BBC's ‘Pattern of Behaviour’ with ‘Untouchable’ Presenters after Board Kept Edwards’ Arrest a Secret

Aug 4, 2024 | “The BBC is just in serious, serious trouble because they’re just not being straight on this.” TV Licence fee payers “deserve the truth” from the BBC in the after the revelation of the Huw Edwards scandal, says TalkTV presenter Peter Cardwell.

Mirror exclusive here.

Related »

BBC Wipes Huw Edwards from Archive but Role in State Occasions Presents Challenge

THE OBSERVER: Broadcaster removes image and voice from content as Welsh organisations erase disgraced presenter from websites

Huw Edwards’s image and voice are being urgently removed from hours of BBC archive footage, starting with family and entertainment content on iPlayer, the Observer has learned.

Photographs of the disgraced Welsh television news anchor are also being removed by prominent institutions and charities, and from websites throughout Wales, where he was a national figurehead. » | Vanessa Thorpe | Saturday, August 3, 2024

Man at centre of Huw Edwards case says he felt ‘groomed’ by presenter: Person who admitted sending BBC newsreader explicit messages and videos when in teens felt taken ‘advantage of’ »

Related material here »

Huw Edwards' Deeply ‘Consumed Personality’ Led Him to Commit Crime | Andrew Billen

Aug 1, 2024 | "People like Huw Edwards are a bit weird, a bit different, a bit untouchable, but have a bit more leeway in how they behave”. Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards was able to "hoodwink" other staff members to do as he feels, says The Times’s Andrew Billen.

Huw Edwards’ fall comes 14 months after career peak: Questions to be asked about whether sufficient safeguarding was in place to prevent another TV face exploiting power A measure of the speed and depth of Huw Edwards’ reputational collapse is that his appearance at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday came just 14 months after he reached his career peak, presenting the king’s coronation. The presenter has already suffered disgrace and career ruin and could, when sentencing occurs on 16 September, face jail. »

Related »

Huw Edwards' Broadcasting Career Ends in Disgrace

Edwards, who joined the BBC in 1984, was one of the UK's most high-profile broadcasters | PA MEDIA
BBC: Huw Edwards was one of the most familiar and respected faces on British TV, but is now in disgrace after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

The former BBC News presenter's admission at Westminster Magistrates 'Court on Wednesday came three months after the former anchor resigned from the BBC on "medical advice".

The presenter had been off air since July last year, when he was named as the star at the centre of different allegations, also involving explicit images.

His guilty plea marks the end of a career in broadcasting which has spanned more than 40 years.

He was known for his calm delivery of major news stories and was trusted by viewers.

Until last year, Edwards had been the BBC's first choice to front coverage of major national events, including the 2019 general election and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Professor Tim Luckhurst, a former BBC executive, said there had been "the revelation of a dark side", which had been "extremely well hidden".

"We've seen the downfall of a national figure, and we must recognise that dark side has been responsible for his fall." » | Steven McIntosh, BBC News | Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Huw Edwards could lose series of Welsh honours: Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards could lose a number of Welsh honours after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. »

BBC knew Huw Edwards had been arrested in November: The BBC knew in November that Huw Edwards had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences, the corporation said. »

Related »

Huw Edwards Pleads Guilty to Possessing Indecent Images of Children ‘as Young as Seven’

Jul 31, 2024 | Huw Edwards, the former leading BBC presenter, has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, including one image of a child believed to be as young as seven years old. Edwards, 62, who left the corporation last year, admitted at Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday morning to possessing 41 indecent images, seven of which are Category A, the most serious.

BBC video here.

TIMES RADIO video here.

THE GUARDIAN: Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children: Former BBC News presenter admitted three counts at Westminster magistrates court »

Related »

Huw Edwards in Court for Indecent Image Hearing

PA MEDIA
Mr Edwards, 62, is appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday morning.

As he arrived, he was flanked by several police officers and surrounded by photographers. He was wearing a black suit, blue tie and sunglasses, and had a blank expression. » | Bonnie McLaren, Culture reporter | Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Related »

TV's Huw Edwards Could Face Prison Time after Being Charged with Making Indecent Images of Children

Jul 30, 2024 | "The charges relate to the most extreme category… the images are very graphic in nature”.

Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards could face a potential prison sentence along with a significant fine if found guilty of making indecent pictures of children, says The Times’ media correspondent Alex Farber.


Related »

Former BBC Presenter Huw Edwards Charged with Making Indecent Images of Children

Jul 29, 2024 | The former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with making indecent images of children, allegedly between 2020 and 2022. The Metropolitan police said Mr Edwards would appear in court on Wednesday. We’re outside the BBC with the details.

Related material here.

Huw Edwards Charged with Making Indecent Images of Children

BBC: Former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022 and relates to images shared on Whatsapp, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The broadcaster was arrested last November and charged last month, the force revealed on Monday.

He is due to appear in court in London on Wednesday. » | Ian Youngs, Culture reporter | Monday, July 29, 2024

Huw Edwards charged with making indecent images of children: Former BBC presenter charged with three offences after Met police investigation »

Related material here.