BBC chairman Samir Shah has said that director-general Tim Davie had the “unanimous” support of the corporation’s board prior to his resignation.

In a letter in response to a Culture, Media And Sport Committee evidence session, which saw him questioned by MPs alongside former editorial adviser Michael Prescott and board member Sir Robbie Gibb, the 73-year-old said Mr Davie had been an “outstanding” director-general.

He said: “It was clear to me over that weekend (that Mr Davie resigned) that the director-general retained my non-executive colleagues’ unanimous support.”

Last month, Mr Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness announced their exit in the wake of a leaked memo from Mr Prescott which raised concerns that a speech by US President Donald Trump, featured in a Panorama

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