Sky News Daily Why does BBC board’s Robbie Gibb keep getting criticised?
Nov 14, 2025
Jake Kanter, the international investigations editor at Deadline, delves into the controversy surrounding Sir Robbie Gibb, a non-executive director at the BBC. He examines Gibb's political ties and influence over editorial standards, which many claim led to recent public outcry, including the BBC's apology to President Trump. Kanter also discusses whether Gibb's appointment aimed to balance perceived biases within the BBC, while defending journalism's integrity despite past missteps. The conversation reveals the complex dynamics of power and accountability in media governance.
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From BBC Journalist To Tory Insider
- Robbie Gibb moved from a long BBC journalism career into Tory communications and then onto the BBC board.
- His Conservative connections, including serving as Theresa May's head of communications, shaped perceptions about his board role.
Board Role Gave Editorial Influence
- Gibb served as a non-executive BBC board member and sat on the editorial standards subcommittee.
- That subcommittee role gave him influence over reviews of BBC content and editorial standards.
Personal Ties Linked To Content Reviews
- Gibb's friendship with policy advisor David Grossman tied him to internal reviews, including the US election coverage.
- That connection helped focus scrutiny on the Panorama edit that sparked the crisis.