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Jimmy Savile: BBC regrets dropped Newsnight investigation Jimmy Savile: BBC regrets dropped Newsnight investigation
(35 minutes later)
   
A Newsnight investigation into sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile should not have been dropped, the BBC's director general has told MPs.A Newsnight investigation into sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile should not have been dropped, the BBC's director general has told MPs.
But George Entwistle told the Commons culture committee he did not believe management pressure had led to a report on the former presenter being shelved.But George Entwistle told the Commons culture committee he did not believe management pressure had led to a report on the former presenter being shelved.
He said he asked Newsnight editor Peter Rippon to step aside amid an inquiry.He said he asked Newsnight editor Peter Rippon to step aside amid an inquiry.
Nine "serious allegations" of sexual harassment or assault regarding current staff have been made, the BBC has said.Nine "serious allegations" of sexual harassment or assault regarding current staff have been made, the BBC has said.
"Some of these cases have been passed to the police where appropriate, and we are reviewing others within our normal HR processes and procedures," said the BBC in a statement."Some of these cases have been passed to the police where appropriate, and we are reviewing others within our normal HR processes and procedures," said the BBC in a statement.
In a two-hour appearance before the committee, Mr Entwistle said a "broader cultural problem" at the BBC in the past had allowed the abuse by Savile, who regularly appeared on British TV in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.In a two-hour appearance before the committee, Mr Entwistle said a "broader cultural problem" at the BBC in the past had allowed the abuse by Savile, who regularly appeared on British TV in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
The man Mr Entwistle replaced as director general, Mark Thompson, has written an email confirming he would be prepared to give evidence to the select committee should they request it.
During his evidence, Mr Entwistle also revealed:During his evidence, Mr Entwistle also revealed:
  • There was not enough evidence to say whether sexual abuse or harassment at the corporation was "endemic"
  • Mr Entwistle admitted he knew about the Newsnight probe while he was head of BBC Vision, after a brief conversation with head of news Helen Boaden, but added he did not press her for more details as he did not want to show "undue interest" in a news issue
  • The director general insisted Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had decided to drop the Savile investigation "on his own account" and their was "no external pressure"
  • Conservative MP Philip Davies told Mr Entwistle he added to "get a grip" on his organisaation, after he failed to tell them how many allegations of sexual harassment had been made against BBC employees past and present
  • There was not enough evidence to say whether sexual abuse or harassment at the corporation was "endemic"
  • Mr Entwistle admitted he knew about the Newsnight probe while he was head of BBC Vision, after a brief conversation with head of news Helen Boaden, but added he did not press her for more details as he did not want to show "undue interest" in a news issue
  • The director general insisted Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had decided to drop the Savile investigation "on his own account" and their was "no external pressure"
  • Conservative MP Philip Davies told Mr Entwistle he added to "get a grip" on his organisation, after he failed to tell them how many allegations of sexual harassment had been made against BBC employees past and present
Police have described Savile, who died last year aged 84, as a predatory sex offender. They believe he may have abused many people - including young girls - over a 40-year period.Police have described Savile, who died last year aged 84, as a predatory sex offender. They believe he may have abused many people - including young girls - over a 40-year period.
A criminal investigation is under way.A criminal investigation is under way.
'Gravely serious matter''Gravely serious matter'
Two hours of relentlessly hostile questioning awaited George Entwistle, who was on the back foot from the start, looking uncomfortable when asked about current sexual harassment complaints in the BBC.Two hours of relentlessly hostile questioning awaited George Entwistle, who was on the back foot from the start, looking uncomfortable when asked about current sexual harassment complaints in the BBC.
The director general clearly had no intention of defending the Newsnight editor's decision to drop the investigation into Savile, saying it should have gone ahead.The director general clearly had no intention of defending the Newsnight editor's decision to drop the investigation into Savile, saying it should have gone ahead.
Most awkward for him was why tributes were aired when he knew Newsnight was investigating Savile. He was accused of a lack of curiosity for not asking more questions.Most awkward for him was why tributes were aired when he knew Newsnight was investigating Savile. He was accused of a lack of curiosity for not asking more questions.
MPs were incredulous as they heard details of the corporation's management structure.MPs were incredulous as they heard details of the corporation's management structure.
There was however a slight sense that the wrong witness was being questioned today and MPs needed to hear Peter Rippon's side of the story.There was however a slight sense that the wrong witness was being questioned today and MPs needed to hear Peter Rippon's side of the story.
Giving evidence to the committee, Mr Entwistle said: "There is no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved in the years - the culture and practices of the BBC seems to allow Jimmy Savile to do what he did - will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us," he told the committee.Giving evidence to the committee, Mr Entwistle said: "There is no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved in the years - the culture and practices of the BBC seems to allow Jimmy Savile to do what he did - will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us," he told the committee.
"This is a gravely serious matter and one cannot look back at it with anything other than horror, frankly, that... his activities went on as long as they did undetected.""This is a gravely serious matter and one cannot look back at it with anything other than horror, frankly, that... his activities went on as long as they did undetected."
On Monday, the BBC's Panorama programme reported on the abuse allegations as well as the decision by Newsnight last December to drop its investigations into the claims.On Monday, the BBC's Panorama programme reported on the abuse allegations as well as the decision by Newsnight last December to drop its investigations into the claims.
Mr Entwistle said that having seen the Panorama broadcast, he believed the Newsnight investigation should have been allowed to continue.Mr Entwistle said that having seen the Panorama broadcast, he believed the Newsnight investigation should have been allowed to continue.
"I came away from Panorama firmly of the view that that investigation, even if in the judgement of the editor it wasn't ready for transmission at the point he was looking at it, should have been allowed to continue," he said."I came away from Panorama firmly of the view that that investigation, even if in the judgement of the editor it wasn't ready for transmission at the point he was looking at it, should have been allowed to continue," he said.
Asked whether there had been pressure from management on Newsnight to drop its Savile investigation, Mr Entwistle said there was no evidence of this and denied any BBC cover-up of the allegations against one of the corporation's former stars.Asked whether there had been pressure from management on Newsnight to drop its Savile investigation, Mr Entwistle said there was no evidence of this and denied any BBC cover-up of the allegations against one of the corporation's former stars.
He said Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had become convinced that examining whether police had failed properly to investigate Savile was crucial to airing the Newsnight report, and "no external pressure" had been required to come to that conclusion.He said Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had become convinced that examining whether police had failed properly to investigate Savile was crucial to airing the Newsnight report, and "no external pressure" had been required to come to that conclusion.
Mr Rippon had made the decision to drop the Newsnight investigation "on his own account", said the director general.Mr Rippon had made the decision to drop the Newsnight investigation "on his own account", said the director general.
Mr Entwistle said he had asked Mr Rippon to step aside because of inaccuracies in a blog earlier this month explaining the editorial reasons behind the axing of the Savile report.Mr Entwistle said he had asked Mr Rippon to step aside because of inaccuracies in a blog earlier this month explaining the editorial reasons behind the axing of the Savile report.
On Monday the BBC issued a correction to some specific elements of the blog, calling it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects", and the director general told MPs this was a matter of "regret and embarrassment".On Monday the BBC issued a correction to some specific elements of the blog, calling it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects", and the director general told MPs this was a matter of "regret and embarrassment".
But he said that he believed, "to the best of the evidence we have been able to assemble", the explanation now being offered for the dropping of the Newsnight report was accurate.But he said that he believed, "to the best of the evidence we have been able to assemble", the explanation now being offered for the dropping of the Newsnight report was accurate.
"What became clear to us after the blog was published was that what had happened on Newsnight, there was a significant, it seemed, difference of opinion between the people working on the investigation and the editor, Peter Rippon, who commissioned the investigation," Mr Entwistle said."What became clear to us after the blog was published was that what had happened on Newsnight, there was a significant, it seemed, difference of opinion between the people working on the investigation and the editor, Peter Rippon, who commissioned the investigation," Mr Entwistle said.
An independent inquiry led by former Sky head of news Nick Pollard will examine why the Newsnight investigation was dropped.An independent inquiry led by former Sky head of news Nick Pollard will examine why the Newsnight investigation was dropped.
Christmas scheduleChristmas schedule
Mr Entwistle was asked about a brief conversation with BBC director of news Helen Boaden last December about the possibility of Newsnight running their report about Savile, while Mr Entwistle, as then BBC director of Vision, was planning Christmas tribute pieces to the presenter.Mr Entwistle was asked about a brief conversation with BBC director of news Helen Boaden last December about the possibility of Newsnight running their report about Savile, while Mr Entwistle, as then BBC director of Vision, was planning Christmas tribute pieces to the presenter.
"The key message I took away was that it wasn't yet clear to Helen whether it was going to stand up or not," he said."The key message I took away was that it wasn't yet clear to Helen whether it was going to stand up or not," he said.
"I wouldn't have had any qualms about making any changes we needed to make to the Christmas schedule.""I wouldn't have had any qualms about making any changes we needed to make to the Christmas schedule."
When asked if it had been a failure by him to ask further questions about the nature of the report, he said he didn't want to show "undue interest", adding: "I don't believe I did fail... the system as a whole doesn't seem to have got this right."When asked if it had been a failure by him to ask further questions about the nature of the report, he said he didn't want to show "undue interest", adding: "I don't believe I did fail... the system as a whole doesn't seem to have got this right."
Asked whether he now regretted running the tribute programmes for Savile, Mr Entwistle told MPs: "In the light of what's happening, of course I do."Asked whether he now regretted running the tribute programmes for Savile, Mr Entwistle told MPs: "In the light of what's happening, of course I do."
He added that the Panorama programme pointed to the BBC's health as a media organisation, rather than being a "symptom of chaos", because it showed the organisation's capacity to investigate itself.He added that the Panorama programme pointed to the BBC's health as a media organisation, rather than being a "symptom of chaos", because it showed the organisation's capacity to investigate itself.
He said no other news organisation in the world would do this.He said no other news organisation in the world would do this.
As well as the Pollard review, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will lead a review into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time at the corporation and will also examine if the BBC's child protection and whistleblowing policies are fit for purpose.As well as the Pollard review, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will lead a review into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time at the corporation and will also examine if the BBC's child protection and whistleblowing policies are fit for purpose.
She has said she expects to start work on Monday.She has said she expects to start work on Monday.
Mr Entwistle said that nowadays BBC staff would "know where to go" over sexual harassment complaints.Mr Entwistle said that nowadays BBC staff would "know where to go" over sexual harassment complaints.
"I'm not sure in the 60s and 70s... they would have felt there was anything they could do," he said."I'm not sure in the 60s and 70s... they would have felt there was anything they could do," he said.
But, on sexual discrimination within the corporation, Mr Entwistle said: "I believe the culture has changed at the BBC but I am not convinced that it has changed as much as it should have."But, on sexual discrimination within the corporation, Mr Entwistle said: "I believe the culture has changed at the BBC but I am not convinced that it has changed as much as it should have."
The BBC later clarified they were dealing with nine allegations of "sexual harassment, assault or inappropriate conduct" regarding current staff or contributors.The BBC later clarified they were dealing with nine allegations of "sexual harassment, assault or inappropriate conduct" regarding current staff or contributors.
The statement added: "Some of these cases have been passed to the police where appropriate, and we are reviewing others within our normal HR processes and procedures."The statement added: "Some of these cases have been passed to the police where appropriate, and we are reviewing others within our normal HR processes and procedures."
The Panorama programme, Jimmy Savile - What the BBC Knew, can be seen again on the BBC iPlayer.The Panorama programme, Jimmy Savile - What the BBC Knew, can be seen again on the BBC iPlayer.