Rachel Jupp has been appointed director of , nearly a year after her predecessor stepped down amid controversy over editorial standards. The appointment marks a significant leadership change for the corporation's news division, which is undergoing substantial restructuring.
Deborah Turness, the previous director, announced her resignation in November following an internal memo that revealed an episode of Panorama had edited a speech by President Trump in a misleading way. The scandal also led to the departure of then-director general Tim Davie, who was subsequently replaced by Matt Brittin earlier in the year.
Jupp brings extensive experience across multiple BBC programmes and roles. She served as deputy editor of Newsnight on BBC Two and held the position of editor at Panorama, though she departed that role several years before the controversial Trump episode aired. Her career at the BBC began in 2013 when she joined Newsnight as deputy editor, having previously worked at News from 2005, where she was head of home news.
More recently, Jupp has led the BBC's editorial work on generative AI from a base in the United States, and previously oversaw a BBC inquiry into antisemitism within the Labour Party.
What will Jupp's role involve?
Jupp will oversee approximately 4,500 staff members and serve as a member of the BBC's executive committee. She will be paid a salary of £400,000, comparable to the starting salary of her predecessor Turness in 2022, though Turness's compensation had risen to between £445,000 and £449,999 by her final year.
Jonathan Munro, who has served as interim head of the news division for the past 11 months, will return to his position as deputy director of when Jupp assumes her role.
What are the challenges facing ?
The appointment arrives as the BBC navigates significant financial and operational pressures. The corporation has announced approximately 550 job closures within the news division, with further reductions anticipated. Across the BBC as a whole, between 1,800 and 2,000 positions—nearly one in ten—are being eliminated as part of a plan to save £500 million over two years.
Brittin acknowledged these broader challenges in his statement about the appointment, noting that
in a world of infinite choice, audiences are fragmenting, trust is scarce and facts are contested. He emphasised that the BBC must
recommit to the BBC's distinctive journalistic mission while reinventing how we serve audiences.
What did leadership say about the appointment?
Brittin described Jupp as
an outstanding editorial leaderand highlighted her
news judgement, fairness and high standards. He added that she brings
a clarity of vision for the future, and the determined, collaborative approach needed to strengthen, and praised her as someone with
a fresh perspective to lead into a new era.
Jupp expressed her commitment to the role, stating:
I want to champion our vital, independent and impartial journalism, deepen the trust people have in the BBC and meet our audiences wherever they are. I'm grateful to Matt for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to working with our dedicated, brilliant teams across the UK and around the world.
Brittin also commended Jonathan Munro's stewardship during the interim period, saying:
I would like to thank Jonathan Munro for his professionalism and leadership of in the past 11 months. I have been personally grateful for his deep experience, calm head and steady hand.
What is the background to the previous director's departure?
Turness's resignation followed the revelation that a 2023 Panorama episode had spliced together two sections of a speech President Trump delivered in 2021, shortly before the Capitol riots on 6 January. The edit gave what the BBC later acknowledged was
the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.
Following the disclosure of the editing error, President Trump initiated a $10 billion (£7.6 billion) lawsuit against the BBC. Although the corporation issued an apology, it rejected his demand for compensation. The case is currently scheduled to proceed to trial in 2027.
What is Jupp's recent career trajectory?
Jupp's appointment to the director role follows a significant expansion of her responsibilities within the BBC. In December 2025, the BBC appointed her to a newly created position as director of News Documentaries and Long Form Journalism, a role she was expected to take up later in 2026. This new documentaries role was designed to set the strategic vision for the BBC's long-form and current-affairs output and would sit on the Board.
The documentaries position was created as part of an action plan following an independent review into the BBC documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, reflecting the corporation's commitment to strengthening oversight of its documentary output.
Key Facts
- Rachel Jupp becomes director of after an 11-month vacancy following Deborah Turness's resignation
- She will oversee approximately 4,500 staff and receive a salary of £400,000
- The division is undergoing significant restructuring, with around 550 job closures announced and more expected
- The previous director departed following controversy over the editing of a President Trump speech in a Panorama episode, which led to a $10 billion lawsuit currently scheduled for trial in 2027
- Jupp has also been appointed to a newly created role as director of News Documentaries and Long Form Journalism, expected to commence later in 2026
