The BBC's outgoing boss yesterday defended its journalists as the broadcaster grappled with how to respond to US President Donald Trump's threat of a lawsuit over a misleading speech edit.

Trump's lawyers on Monday gave the BBC until Friday to "appropriately compensate" the president for "harm caused" by a documentary containing the edit, or face a $1 billion lawsuit for damages.

It has also claimed the jobs of two senior executives.

Director general Tim Davie, who resigned on Sunday, admitted the broadcaster had made "some mistakes that have cost us" but said "we've got to fight for our journalism".