‘Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses

The Guardian has been told the board member that ‘led the charge’ over the letter’s claims was Robbie Gibb, Theresa May’s former communications chief who also helped to found the rightwing news channel GB News. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

When Deborah Turness, the now departed BBC News chief, was first invited to a meeting with the corporation’s board a few weeks ago, there was little to suggest it would be a particularly significant encounter.

But instead of a routine meeting, she came under attack over an item added to the agenda.