BBC right to take Trump legal threat ‘seriously’ says media lawyer
BBC right to take Trump sue threat ‘seriously’ says media lawyer
The BBC is right in taking Donald Trump’s threat to sue “seriously,” a media lawyer has warned. The US president has threatened to seek $1 billion from the corporation over a Panorama documentary episode he claims “defamed” him by selectively editing his 6 January 2021 speech. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, media lawyer Rupert Cowper-Coles explained the BBC is right to take the lawsuit “seriously,” adding that it would be concerning if British media organisations were ever subjected to a damages award anywhere “close to” the figure presented by Trump’s legal team. However, the US president may face difficulties in suing the corporation over “defamatory” statements on Panorama, partly because the documentary may not have been aired in the United States.
Namita Singh13 November 2025 04:22
Ed Davey hits out at Trump $1bn BBC legal threat
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 04:00
Scandal-hit BBC more vulnerable now than ever, says former boss
A former BBC chief has warned the under-fire public broadcaster was more vulnerable now than he had ever known it in the face of the current crisis.
While acknowledging the editing of a speech by Donald Trump, which has prompted the US president to threaten a billion-dollar lawsuit, was “wrong and damaging”, Lord Hall of Birkenhead echoed remarks there was “no institutional bias” at the corporation.
The independent crossbencher, who served as director-general of the BBC from 2013-2020, also called for an end to the once-a-decade process of reviewing the broadcaster’s deal or charter, which he suggested was used as a way of “upsetting” the organisation.
He argued halting the need for future renewals would strengthen the corporation’s independence and be “an amazing legacy from this government”.
Namita Singh13 November 2025 03:39
The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 03:20
Recap: Davie explains his departure
While speaking to staff on a call on Tuesday morning, outgoing director general Tim Davie gave three key reasons for his departure.
BBC News reported he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 03:00
Threats to stop paying TV licence if Trump sues
Britons have said they would stop paying their TV licence fee if Trump successfully sued the BBC.
A caller on BBC 5 Live said: “If we have to pay a penny to Trump, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to pay my TV licence.”
Others said they didn’t think the BBC “has got any out in this” apart from paying compensation.
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 02:40
Starmer urges BBC to ‘get house in order’ after Trump’s $1bn legal threat
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 02:20
Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC faces these ‘legal trip wires’ if he hopes to win $1bn
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 01:01
Majority believe BBC should apologise – poll
The majority of Britons believe the BBC should apologise to Donald Trump over the editing of his speech in a panorama documentary.
A new YouGov poll found 57 per cent of respondents believed the BBC should apologise, while 25 per cent believed they shouldn’t and 18 percent didn’t know.
90 per cent of Reform voters believed the BBC should apologise, compared to 75 per cent of Conservatives, 55 per cent of Lib Dems and 51 per cent of Labour voters.
Only 35 per cent of 18-25 year olds believed the broadcaster should say sorry, compared to 70 per cent of people aged over 65.
Athena Stavrou12 November 2025 23:31
Who is Robbie Gibb, the man at the heart of the BBC scandal with links to Boris Johnson?
BBC staffers and leading political figures are calling for Sir Robbie Gibb to step down from the BBC board.
So, who is the Tory ‘agent’ at the centre of a tangled web of politics and media interests, asks Katie Rosseinsky:
Athena Stavrou12 November 2025 22:00
