Top-level resignations from the BBC over the editing of a speech by President Donald Trump have blown the lid off wider tensions at the British broadcaster over how it is run and whether it still commands public trust in its journalism.

Director General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness quit on Sunday after an internal report by a former adviser that was leaked to the Daily Telegraph cited failings in its coverage of Trump, the Israel-Hamas war and transgender issues.

But rather than contain the scandal, the resignations have plunged the British institution into its biggest crisis in decades, with the publicly-owned broadcaster left without a leader just as it faces a review of the charter that determines its funding.

Even the BBC's supporters acknowledge that the current license fee - paid by all television-owning households and a large part of its funding - is increasingly out of date when viewers are turning to the likes of Netflix, YouTube and social media for news and entertainment.

BBC RELIES ON PUBLIC TRUST

"The most important asset the BBC has is trust, and its reputation is based on the fact that its news provision is impartial, it's objective, it's properly sourced and checked," John Whittingdale, a Conservative lawmaker and former government minister for media, told Reuters.

"And if viewers and listeners no longer can have confidence in that then that is hugely damaging to the BBC."

Claire Enders, founder of Enders Analysis, said a new leader should be appointed as soon as possible to "restore the trust there has to be in the BBC for it to survive........

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