Sky News Daily Why does Donald Trump want to sue the BBC for ‘$1bn’?
8 snips
Nov 10, 2025 
Roger Bolton, an experienced former Panorama editor and host of the Beeb Watch podcast, dives into the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's threats to sue the BBC. He discusses the fallout from executives' resignations over editing allegations, emphasizing the dangers of perceived bias. Bolton critiques the Panorama documentary's editing, revealing inaccuracies and oversight failures. He shares insights on how this scandal could impact the BBC's future trust and funding, and proposes a reevaluation of its public service responsibilities.
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Editing Error Sparked Crisis
- The Panorama edit that stitched two Trump clips 45 minutes apart created the perception of a single continuous statement.
- Roger Bolton argues this was a clear editorial error that should have been promptly acknowledged and corrected.
Personal BBC Career Recounted
- Roger Bolton recounted his BBC career including editing Panorama and later being made redundant.
- He still receives a small BBC pension but is independent and not promoted by the corporation.
Governance Structure Caused Gridlock
- BBC governance was changed to a single board which mixes executive and non-executive roles.
- Bolton says that structure prevents open debate and leaves decisions deadlocked when members disagree.