Those anticipating a dramatic showdown at Monday’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing may have been left wanting.
Select Committee hearings have, at times, resembled a Roman Colosseum, complete with theatrical displays and pointed criticisms from MPs.
Following two weeks of intense scrutiny for the BBC, Samir Shah appeared apprehensive as he faced the committee.
However, within the first ten minutes, the chairman seemed to relax, perhaps realizing that the MPs were not prepared for a hostile confrontation. There were to be no fatal blows.
The primary objective for Shah and the BBC was to project an image of control. He was directly asked twice if his resignation was warranted. He responded that his current responsibility is to “steer the ship” and initiate the search for a new director general.
Caroline Thomson, a fellow board member, stated that Shah had the board’s unanimous support.
She notably omitted mentioning the resignation of board member Shumeet Banerji on Friday, who cited “governance issues”.
This resignation undeniably intensified the pressure on Shah leading up to the committee appearance – and this is when Shah became most engaged.
While acknowledging Banerji’s contributions, he refuted the implication that the former board member was not consulted regarding the events leading to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness.
Shah asserted – twice – that he had a 26-minute conversation with Banerji.
The BBC chairman entered the session in a vulnerable position, facing accusations of losing control over his board.
He appears to have emerged with a stronger standing. If the BBC aimed to project unity, it was successful. Following two weeks of reports highlighting internal divisions (including allegations of a rift between the news division and the board, as well as discord within the board itself), the three BBC board members presented a united front.
The hearing itself was far from captivating.
Richard Ayre, a media regulator and former BBC journalist, criticized the session’s length and substance.
“About four hours ago – it feels like four years ago – I began by saying this felt likely to be a bit like an episode of The Traitors, and the question would be who would be the next person to bite the dust,” he told BBC News following the session.
“I think after we’ve sat through these two interrogations by MPs, the answer is there will be no banishing this evening and they’ll both be down to breakfast tomorrow morning.
“Over the last two weeks we’ve had across the media countless reports of tensions within the BBC board… And yet the picture we got… today was all peace, all light – everybody has full confidence in everybody else.”
Andrew Neil, a journalist and former BBC presenter, shared a similar sentiment.
“My immediate thought is I’ve spent more interesting afternoons watching paint dry. I mean, this is a low-level committee. The Watergate hearings, it was not,” he told BBC News.
“The quality of question was appalling, it lacked any forensic approach, they’re uninformed, some of them can barely string six words together in a coherent sentence.
“Those who are hoping to get the scalps of the chair, Samir Shah, or… the non-executive director, Robbie Gibb, or to discredit Michael Prescott, the author of the report that’s caused all the trouble – they are going to be deeply disappointed because nobody really laid a glove on them.
“And if the BBC was worried that this could have been the start of a process of its demise, then it should have a large gin and tonic tonight, because nothing happened that did any damage whatsoever.”
However, the hearing did offer some insights.
Shah was questioned regarding his initial failure to apologize for the misleading edit of a Donald Trump segment, which was first reported by The Telegraph.
He implied that he deemed the apology proposed by news executives to be insufficient.
Caroline Thomson, who was present, acknowledged a “continuing and sharp difference of opinion between the chairman and me and others on the board with the director of news”. She mentioned that the disagreement centered on whether to apologize for the edit or for the misleading impression it created. Some board members believed an apology was warranted.
Sir Robbie Gibb, a former BBC executive and Downing Street head of communications under Theresa May, and one of the political appointees to the board, also spoke publicly for the first time.
He has been accused of political interference by some.
On Monday, he refuted the allegations, stating that he has been “weaponized” and that impartiality is inherent to his character.
When asked directly if there had been a politically motivated coup, as some have suggested, Sir Robbie dismissed the notion as “ridiculous,” “complete nonsense,” and “offensive to board members.”
Whether that will silence critics remains to be seen.
Michael Prescott, whose leaked memo initiated the current situation, also offered his perspective.
He stated that he does not believe the BBC is institutionally biased. However, the Committee did not fully investigate the accuracy of his claims regarding systemic issues within the BBC. This issue remains unresolved.
Caroline Daniel, another former advisor who participated in the same meetings as Prescott, did not reach the same conclusion. While she received fewer questions, her responses were direct.
She emphasized that the BBC takes impartiality matters “incredibly seriously” and that this is “why they are the most trusted news brand in the world.”
Overall, each individual who testified expressed strong support for the BBC.
However, given the highlighted divisions and errors over the past few weeks, including significant resignations and the legal threat from Donald Trump, the crisis is far from over.
Shah has survived this encounter, but with the BBC under pressure, future challenges are inevitable.
BBC chairman Samir Shah and board members appear before MPs after Tim Davie’s resignation.
Laura Maciver and Martin Geissler present Radio Scotland Breakfast, replacing Good Morning Scotland.
Shumeet Banerji’s departure, citing governance issues, increases pressure on Shah.
Celebrities speak to BBC News before Blackpool Week, a major milestone in the contest.
Shumeet Banerji, an ex-management consultant, resigns from the BBC board and criticizes its governance.