Samir Shah, chair of the BBC, told MPs he intends to remain in post and tackle the problems exposed by the Panorama edit of a Donald Trump speech.
Apologising for mistakes and their effects, Shah said his priority is to stabilise the corporation and lead a programme of fixes rather than step aside.
The row began after a leaked internal memo from former editorial adviser Michael Prescott warned of deepening issues in BBC News.
Prescott told MPs he did not believe the broadcaster was institutionally biased, but said he had grown frustrated by what he saw as insufficient action while advising the board between 2022 and 2025.
The controversy prompted the departures of director general Tim Davie and head of News Deborah Turness earlier this month, intensifying scrutiny of the BBC’s editorial controls.
Shah acknowledged the corporation was too slow to apologise and said there had been a clear disagreement between board members and newsroom executives over the wording.
The dispute focused on whether the apology should say the edit gave the impression of a call to violence, or simply that two parts of the speech had been joined without being made explicit.
Board member Caroline Thomson argued the Panorama clip created a misleading impression of Mr Trump’s message, while News executives maintained the edit reflected the speech’s broader tone but should have been more transparent.
Shah praised Turness for resigning and described her action as honourable, but said the board had wished the director general had stayed and maintained he had the board’s confidence.
Sir Robbie Gibb, another board member who has faced media criticism over perceived political leanings, dismissed suggestions of a politically driven board coup as unfounded.
He pointed to a long career at the BBC and said he had acted impartially while serving on the board.
Prescott told the committee he repeatedly encountered denial from management when raising concerns, including on coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and trans issues, and that he was alarmed when the organisation initially defended the Panorama edit.
He said he had hoped the matter could be resolved internally and did not know how his memo became public.
Caroline Daniel, also a former external adviser, described Prescott’s note as a personal account and said the BBC had engaged in robust debate and taken action on several issues.
Meanwhile, the corporation has placed an advert for a new director general and Shah said he wants to create a deputy role because the top job is too large for one person.
The tumult has left the BBC facing fresh legal and reputational tests, and Shah said his task now is to address the failings and restore public confidence in the broadcaster’s journalism.
