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BBC bosses face grilling by MPs BBC bosses face grilling by MPs
(about 1 hour later)
BBC bosses have faced fierce questioning from MPs over the crude phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs.BBC bosses have faced fierce questioning from MPs over the crude phone calls made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs.
BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons denied the corporation had been slow in its response to the incident, but admitted there were lessons to be learned.BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons denied the corporation had been slow in its response to the incident, but admitted there were lessons to be learned.
The BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, admitted "a very serious editorial lapse" had occurred.The BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, admitted "a very serious editorial lapse" had occurred.
The pair were speaking at a Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing.The pair were speaking at a Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing.
Sir Michael and Mr Thompson defended the corporation's actions in the aftermath of the scandal.Sir Michael and Mr Thompson defended the corporation's actions in the aftermath of the scandal.
'Refute allegations'
When criticised for "lamentable slowness", Sir Michael replied: "There was no lack of speed."When criticised for "lamentable slowness", Sir Michael replied: "There was no lack of speed."
"I refute and reject any allegations there were more actions the trust should have taken. The trust is doing its job of holding the executive to account.""I refute and reject any allegations there were more actions the trust should have taken. The trust is doing its job of holding the executive to account."
"I don't think we could've got an apology out any earlier. Could that apology have been worded differently? It was clear that it was both an apology to Andrew Sachs and that [the broadcast's] underlying material was unacceptable.""I don't think we could've got an apology out any earlier. Could that apology have been worded differently? It was clear that it was both an apology to Andrew Sachs and that [the broadcast's] underlying material was unacceptable."
However Sir Michael admitted that the BBC could have addressed Mr Sach's granddaughter, Georgina Bailey, who was the subject of the crude phone calls, in its initial apology. Ross was suspended over the incident and Brand resigned.
However Sir Michael admitted that the BBC could have addressed Mr Sachs' granddaughter, Georgina Baillie, who was the subject of the crude phone calls, in its initial apology.
He also said there was a case that the BBC's head of audio, Tim Davie, should have been "on the airwaves" to make a public statement a little earlier.He also said there was a case that the BBC's head of audio, Tim Davie, should have been "on the airwaves" to make a public statement a little earlier.
Davie faced the press on Tuesday, 28 October, two days after the incident on Brand's Radio 2 show came to light - but 10 days after the initial broadcast.Davie faced the press on Tuesday, 28 October, two days after the incident on Brand's Radio 2 show came to light - but 10 days after the initial broadcast.
The grilling came during the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's ongoing inquiry into the commercial operations of the BBC. MPs also criticised Sir Michael and Mr Thompson for failing to fire Ross and Brand for "gross misconduct".
"Before you bandy around words like gross misconduct, the BBC has a duty of care," Sir Michael said.
"The BBC looks at the evidence before making its decisions."
BBC report
He added he felt that Radio 2 had been premature in announcing Jonathan Ross would be returning to the station in January before the trust had completed its investigations into his role in the incident.
Sir Michael told MPs the trust had not finished its inquiry and that all decisions would follow from that, with nothing being ruled in or out.
He did, however, defend Ross's £6 million-a-year contract, saying it reflected the market rate and that some members of the public had told him the presenter was the reason they tuned in to the BBC.
Mr Thompson said the BBC had made improvements in its standards over the past five years.
"We've seen progressive widespread, tightening and improving - that's not to say that we shouldn't learn lessons from individual serious lapses," he said.
Mr Thompson is due to report back to the trust later this week on BBC management's findings over the furore. The trust will announce the results of their investigation on Friday, 21 November.