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BBC chief Tim Davie says no-one is irreplaceable after scandals | BBC chief Tim Davie says no-one is irreplaceable after scandals |
(32 minutes later) | |
BBC Bosses Quizzed By MPs | BBC Bosses Quizzed By MPs |
BBC director general Tim Davie has said "no-one is irreplaceable", following a series of high-profile scandals at the corporation over the summer. | BBC director general Tim Davie has said "no-one is irreplaceable", following a series of high-profile scandals at the corporation over the summer. |
Davie and BBC chair Samir Shah are facing questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on a wide range of issues, including culture at the BBC, its Glastonbury coverage, its Gaza documentary and the MasterChef crisis. | Davie and BBC chair Samir Shah are facing questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on a wide range of issues, including culture at the BBC, its Glastonbury coverage, its Gaza documentary and the MasterChef crisis. |
Shah told MPs that he was determined to "stamp out" bad behaviour, adding: "It doesn't matter how grand you are, how famous you are, how important you are. If you behave badly and abuse your power, we don't want you working for the BBC." | Shah told MPs that he was determined to "stamp out" bad behaviour, adding: "It doesn't matter how grand you are, how famous you are, how important you are. If you behave badly and abuse your power, we don't want you working for the BBC." |
Asked by MPs to guarantee there would not be another "scandal of BBC talent abusing their position", Davie replied: "I don't think you can change culture in six months and suddenly say nothing's going to occur... we may see more things coming out." | Asked by MPs to guarantee there would not be another "scandal of BBC talent abusing their position", Davie replied: "I don't think you can change culture in six months and suddenly say nothing's going to occur... we may see more things coming out." |
Davie added he was "not letting anything lie" when it came to rooting out abuses of power within the corporation. | |
The director-general said: "No-one's irreplaceable, we're all dispensable. That's an absolute, unequivocal position being given to the whole BBC." | |
He said he would not be offering a "running commentary" on whistleblowing, adding: "I don't think it's right for me to talk about the specifics of what the whistleblowing team are dealing with day to day." | |
Asked if he had considered resigning in light of the scandals, Davie said the job of director-general was "not for the faint-hearted". | |
"If I said I wasn't feeling the pressure, I think I'd be inhuman," Davie said. "When you're in these jobs, you should be held accountable." | "If I said I wasn't feeling the pressure, I think I'd be inhuman," Davie said. "When you're in these jobs, you should be held accountable." |
"We want to grip the issues, that's at the forefront of our minds," he added. | "We want to grip the issues, that's at the forefront of our minds," he added. |
During the hearing, the BBC chiefs discussed some of the changes that have been made to how abuses of power are dealt with following a recent review into the BBC's workplace culture. | During the hearing, the BBC chiefs discussed some of the changes that have been made to how abuses of power are dealt with following a recent review into the BBC's workplace culture. |
Davie told MPs: "There are consequences, we are not mucking around now. | |
"You have to be clear and you have to be fair, but if you're not living the values, it is clear you leave the BBC or there are consequences." | |
He noted the report had shown that the BBC does not have "a toxic culture". | |
But he also said there were "pockets where things were not right". | But he also said there were "pockets where things were not right". |
'We do not have a toxic culture': Tim Davie quizzed by MPs on the BBC | 'We do not have a toxic culture': Tim Davie quizzed by MPs on the BBC |
One of the topics discussed was the MasterChef crisis, after both of its presenters - Gregg Wallace and John Torode - were sacked following a report which upheld allegations against them. | One of the topics discussed was the MasterChef crisis, after both of its presenters - Gregg Wallace and John Torode - were sacked following a report which upheld allegations against them. |
Davie would not comment on whether there were currently further scandals about workplace behaviour and abuses of power brewing. | Davie would not comment on whether there were currently further scandals about workplace behaviour and abuses of power brewing. |
He also said he couldn't guarantee there would never be someone else abusing their power. | He also said he couldn't guarantee there would never be someone else abusing their power. |
"Because culture is ongoing," he said. But he added that he thought "we're at a moment in society where we're calling it out". | "Because culture is ongoing," he said. But he added that he thought "we're at a moment in society where we're calling it out". |
Davie added that the "vast majority" of chefs on MasterChef wanted its latest series to air. | Davie added that the "vast majority" of chefs on MasterChef wanted its latest series to air. |
It comes after two of the participants were edited out following the allegations against Wallace and Torode. | It comes after two of the participants were edited out following the allegations against Wallace and Torode. |
"I think it was on judgment the right thing to do, but I understand that you could see both sides of the argument very clearly," Davie said. | "I think it was on judgment the right thing to do, but I understand that you could see both sides of the argument very clearly," Davie said. |
Tim Davie said Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set, which was broadcast on iPlayer, was "deeply disturbing" | Tim Davie said Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set, which was broadcast on iPlayer, was "deeply disturbing" |
MPs also asked the BBC chief about the corporation's coverage of Glastonbury. | MPs also asked the BBC chief about the corporation's coverage of Glastonbury. |
The BBC has faced strong criticism for a live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance at the festival, during which the band's singer led crowds in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" and made other derogatory comments. | The BBC has faced strong criticism for a live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance at the festival, during which the band's singer led crowds in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" and made other derogatory comments. |
Davie said that what had happened was "deeply disturbing", adding: "The BBC made a very significant mistake broadcasting that." | Davie said that what had happened was "deeply disturbing", adding: "The BBC made a very significant mistake broadcasting that." |
He added that he had done the "right thing" at the time, by pulling it off the iPlayer. | He added that he had done the "right thing" at the time, by pulling it off the iPlayer. |
Davie said an internal disciplinary process was ongoing into what had happened. When asked why that process hadn't concluded yet, he said it "[takes] time, you need to do it properly". | Davie said an internal disciplinary process was ongoing into what had happened. When asked why that process hadn't concluded yet, he said it "[takes] time, you need to do it properly". |
He added: "These are well intentioned people who made a mistake, so I need to be proportionate." | He added: "These are well intentioned people who made a mistake, so I need to be proportionate." |
Davie also said the measures which have since been put in place would "categorically prevent what happened", adding: "If something is a high-risk act, we'd now put it on delay." | Davie also said the measures which have since been put in place would "categorically prevent what happened", adding: "If something is a high-risk act, we'd now put it on delay." |