BBC Director General Tim Davie has tendered his resignation along with that of Director of News Deborah Turness, a fallout stemming from Panorama's handling of Donald Trump's 2021 speech. However, beneath this high-profile crisis lies Robbie Gibb, an influential figure whose opaque grasp on the BBC's inner workings was allowed to persist for over a decade.
Gibb had spent nearly two decades influencing British public life through his control of key positions at both No 10 and the BBC. This power allowed him to significantly shape the corporation's political coverage, particularly on Brexit, Trump, and ultimately, Gaza. The latter proved particularly contentious, with Gibb allegedly orchestrating pressure that resulted in the BBC's decision to withdraw an investigation into Israel's destruction of Gaza's healthcare system.
This situation highlights how a single individual's unchecked power can irreparably damage an institution like the BBC. Gibb had initially been appointed as head of press at No 10 and later took up influential roles within the BBC, using these positions to advance his own agenda without any notable accountability.
Critics view this state of affairs as an insidious form of interference, in which Gibb has managed to subtly steer the corporation's coverage towards aligning with his own ideological leanings. This approach has come at the cost of undermining trust within both No 10 and the BBC.
A key episode that exposed Gibb's methods was during the Windrush scandal in 2018, when he reacted furiously after Channel 4 News questioned him over its coverage of the issue. He barred them from interviews with the prime minister and extended his ban to cover all other mainstream media outlets.
This reaction exemplifies how Gibb consistently sought to manipulate the narrative that only his own brand of impartiality could ensure. This stance ultimately resulted in a profound crisis for the BBC, coupled with a significant battle with Trump over a Panorama edit of one of his speeches.
As the editor of Channel 4 News from 2012 to 2022, I witnessed firsthand how Gibb operated by exerting influence behind the scenes and restricting access to key figures. His conduct at No 10 during the Brexit campaign, where he allegedly intervened on behalf of Arron Banks and Nigel Farage, exemplifies the kind of partisan meddling that would later come under scrutiny.
A similar dynamic can be observed in the appointment of Gibb to the BBC board, a position from which he was not supposed to interfere with day-to-day editorial decisions. However, allegations emerged of him continuing to exert significant influence over key appointments and matters.
Gibb's impact on British politics has been profound, particularly in his support for Brexit and right-wing causes. His involvement extends beyond the realm of journalism, touching upon his influential role as a figure within Israel’s Jewish community through his interests in the Jewish Chronicle.
Ultimately, it seems that Gibb’s power and influence at the BBC led to Davie and Turness's resignations, albeit not because they were cowed by him. Instead, their decision to act too slowly was the deciding factor.
Throughout this ordeal, Gibb remains an elusive figure whose shadow has dominated British public life for years. His ability to navigate the inner workings of two significant institutions without transparency or accountability has left a legacy of mistrust and crisis that will likely be difficult for the BBC to overcome.
Gibb had spent nearly two decades influencing British public life through his control of key positions at both No 10 and the BBC. This power allowed him to significantly shape the corporation's political coverage, particularly on Brexit, Trump, and ultimately, Gaza. The latter proved particularly contentious, with Gibb allegedly orchestrating pressure that resulted in the BBC's decision to withdraw an investigation into Israel's destruction of Gaza's healthcare system.
This situation highlights how a single individual's unchecked power can irreparably damage an institution like the BBC. Gibb had initially been appointed as head of press at No 10 and later took up influential roles within the BBC, using these positions to advance his own agenda without any notable accountability.
Critics view this state of affairs as an insidious form of interference, in which Gibb has managed to subtly steer the corporation's coverage towards aligning with his own ideological leanings. This approach has come at the cost of undermining trust within both No 10 and the BBC.
A key episode that exposed Gibb's methods was during the Windrush scandal in 2018, when he reacted furiously after Channel 4 News questioned him over its coverage of the issue. He barred them from interviews with the prime minister and extended his ban to cover all other mainstream media outlets.
This reaction exemplifies how Gibb consistently sought to manipulate the narrative that only his own brand of impartiality could ensure. This stance ultimately resulted in a profound crisis for the BBC, coupled with a significant battle with Trump over a Panorama edit of one of his speeches.
As the editor of Channel 4 News from 2012 to 2022, I witnessed firsthand how Gibb operated by exerting influence behind the scenes and restricting access to key figures. His conduct at No 10 during the Brexit campaign, where he allegedly intervened on behalf of Arron Banks and Nigel Farage, exemplifies the kind of partisan meddling that would later come under scrutiny.
A similar dynamic can be observed in the appointment of Gibb to the BBC board, a position from which he was not supposed to interfere with day-to-day editorial decisions. However, allegations emerged of him continuing to exert significant influence over key appointments and matters.
Gibb's impact on British politics has been profound, particularly in his support for Brexit and right-wing causes. His involvement extends beyond the realm of journalism, touching upon his influential role as a figure within Israel’s Jewish community through his interests in the Jewish Chronicle.
Ultimately, it seems that Gibb’s power and influence at the BBC led to Davie and Turness's resignations, albeit not because they were cowed by him. Instead, their decision to act too slowly was the deciding factor.
Throughout this ordeal, Gibb remains an elusive figure whose shadow has dominated British public life for years. His ability to navigate the inner workings of two significant institutions without transparency or accountability has left a legacy of mistrust and crisis that will likely be difficult for the BBC to overcome.
. Robbie Gibb seems like a master manipulator who used his positions at No 10 and the BBC to push his own agenda without anyone keeping him in check 
. It's crazy that he could get away with it for so long, especially considering how influential he was on Brexit and Trump coverage.
. The lack of accountability and transparency would be devastating 
. And to make matters worse, Gibb's actions have damaged trust not just in the BBC but also with No 10 itself.
. It's a powerful reminder of how important it is for institutions to have robust checks and balances in place to prevent anyone from abusing their power 
.
, but now his influence is finally being called out. Robbie Gibb's 2-decade grip on the BBC was basically a recipe for disaster - all it took was someone with a decent pair of glasses and a nose for sniffing out corruption to blow the whistle 
. I mean, who needs transparency when you've got power like that? 
And let's be real, his involvement in right-wing causes is just the icing on the cake - it's not exactly subtle how he was pushing the BBC towards a pro-Israeli agenda 
OMG u guys can u believe this!!! Robbie Gibb's influence at the BBC is just SHOCKING! He literally had control over key positions for years without anyone checking his actions 
. It's like he was playing a master game of puppet strings behind the scenes, shaping the narrative to suit his own agenda 
. I'm so glad Davie and Turness are stepping down, but this whole situation has left a bad taste in my mouth 
. The BBC needs a serious shake-up to restore trust with their audience 
. Let's keep an eye on them as they rebuild! 
. For years, people have been saying that these institutions are independent but it seems that's not true at all. The way Gibb manipulated the narrative and got away with it is unbelievable 
. It's like they have a special deal or something. Anyway, I hope that with Gibb gone, the BBC can start fresh and try to regain some trust from their audience 
. It shows how he's always been willing to use his influence to silence critics and shape the narrative to fit his own agenda.
. And can you believe his shady dealings with Arron Banks and Nigel Farage during Brexit? That's some serious #SleazyPolitics 
.
. Like, who gives someone so much power and lets them run with it? Robbie Gibb seems like he was playing both sides and pushing an agenda without anyone really keeping him in check 
. And yeah, the BBC's coverage of certain issues, especially Brexit and Trump, has always been pretty suspect 
. It's like, what's next? 
, and it's crazy how he was able to shape coverage on Brexit, Trump, and Gaza without anyone noticing 
.
. It's like, how can one person have so much power over the narrative without anyone holding them accountable? 
.
. That's just some serious behavior right there 
. And now, with Davie and Turness resigning, I'm like wondering what other skeletons are gonna come out from under that rock 
.
cant just have people in power without them being held accountable for their actions 
This whole thing with Robbie Gibb at the BBC is wild 
.
.
. It's not just about getting rid of Gibb (although that would be a good start 
) – it's about creating a culture of transparency and accountability within the institution 
. Only then can we start to rebuild trust and ensure that something like this never happens again 
.
? Robbie Gibb sounds like a real-life Bond villain, always pulling strings and manipulating people without anyone noticing 
. I guess it's like they say, "you can't have too many cooks in the kitchen"... unless one of those cooks is secretly controlling everything from behind the scenes 
!
. And now the BBC is left to deal with the fallout of his actions 
. It's like, how can one person have so much power and not be held accountable? 
. Anyway, this is just another example of how unchecked power can lead to disaster 
. The BBC needs a serious shake-up and some real reform if it wants to regain trust 
like how he was just able to control these key positions at the bbc and no 10 without anyone knowing much about it 
they were probably just waiting for someone to call them out on this stuff. but now it's even more clear that Gibb needs to go