BBC Board to overhaul Editorial Guidelines committee
December 19, 2025 10.42 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The BBC Board has published a review of its Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC), alongside a further review examining issues raised in the leaked Michael Prescott memo.

The EGSC review was commissioned by BBC Chair Samir Shah and carried out by senior director Caroline Thomson, supported by former BBC News executive Richard Sambrook. The BBC Board said the findings were accepted unanimously and approved for publication at a meeting on Thursday 18 December.

Following the review, the BBC said it will refocus the EGSC’s remit to concentrate on key areas of editorial risk, adopt a new approach to ensure individual editorial queries are handled promptly at the right level, and consider potential systemic issues for deeper review. The BBC also plans to reset the committee’s composition to broaden the range of voices.

The corporation said it will also clarify the role of external editorial advisers and advertise to recruit two new advisers.

Prescott’s memo on editorial standards, leaked to the Daily Telegraph, led to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness. It alleged systemic editorial bias – including in coverage of Donald Trump, transgender issues and the Gaza.

Published alongside the EGSC review is a more detailed assessment of the Prescott memo, commissioned by the BBC Board and undertaken by Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews. Johnston previously carried out an initial review of the document in October 2025, before being asked to examine all issues raised, actions already taken, and any remaining steps required.

Samir Shah said the reviews were “important”, adding the BBC is moving to make “immediate changes” to the EGSC to ensure “swift, appropriate and transparent action” on editorial issues.