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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.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said "very real concerns" about public trust in the BBC have been raised.Culture Secretary Maria Miller said "very real concerns" about public trust in the BBC have been raised.
She has written to the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, to stress that the corporation's investigations into itself should be conducted "thoroughly".She has written to the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, to stress that the corporation's investigations into itself should be conducted "thoroughly".
In his response, Lord Patten said Mrs Miller knows "how seriously the trust takes the allegations", and added the inquiries would be inquiries would be "comprehensive and independent".In his response, Lord Patten said Mrs Miller knows "how seriously the trust takes the allegations", and added the inquiries would be inquiries would be "comprehensive and independent".
Nine "serious allegations" of sexual harassment or assault regarding current staff have been made, the BBC says.Nine "serious allegations" of sexual harassment or assault regarding current staff have been made, the BBC says.
"Some of these cases have been passed to the police where appropriate, and we are reviewing others within our normal HR processes and procedures," it said 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," it said 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.
A number of key issues were raised during the director general's two hour grilling by MPs.A number of key issues were raised during the director general's two hour grilling by MPs.
  • Mr Entwistle said there was not enough evidence to say whether sexual abuse or harassment at the corporation was "endemic"
  • He said had been told about the Newsnight probe while he was head of BBC Vision, but added he did not press for more details as he did not want to show "undue interest" in a news issue
  • He insisted Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had decided to drop the Savile investigation "on his own account" and there was "no external pressure"
  • Conservative MP Philip Davies told Mr Entwistle he needed 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
'Gravely serious matter'
  • Mr Entwistle said there was not enough evidence to say whether sexual abuse or harassment at the corporation was "endemic"
  • He said had been told about the Newsnight probe while he was head of BBC Vision, but added he did not press for more details as he did not want to show "undue interest" in a news issue
  • He insisted Newsnight editor Peter Rippon had decided to drop the Savile investigation "on his own account" and there was "no external pressure"
  • Conservative MP Philip Davies told Mr Entwistle he needed 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
'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.
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.
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.
Mr Entwistle told MPs: "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."Mr Entwistle told MPs: "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."
"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."
Police have launched a criminal investigation into Savile, who died last year aged 84.Police have launched a criminal investigation into Savile, who died last year aged 84.
They have described him as a predatory sex offender and believe he may have abused many people - including young girls - over a 40-year period.They have described him as a predatory sex offender and believe he may have abused many people - including young girls - over a 40-year period.
On Monday, the BBC's Panorama programme reported on the abuse allegations against Savile 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 against Savile 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. "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," Mr Entwistle 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, he said there was no evidence of this and denied any BBC cover-up of the allegations.
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 Peter Rippon had become convinced that examining whether police had failed properly to investigate Savile was crucial to airing the Newsnight report.
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.
After Mr Entwistle made his appearance, Channel Four News said it had obtained an email written by Liz MacKean - the Newsnight reporter responsible for the investigation - claiming Mr Rippon tried to "kill" her story with "impossible editorial demands".After Mr Entwistle made his appearance, Channel Four News said it had obtained an email written by Liz MacKean - the Newsnight reporter responsible for the investigation - claiming Mr Rippon tried to "kill" her story with "impossible editorial demands".
Ms MacKean wrote to a friend to say her editor had told her Savile's alleged victims "were teenagers, not too young... they weren't the worst kind of sexual offences."Ms MacKean wrote to a friend to say her editor had told her Savile's alleged victims "were teenagers, not too young... they weren't the worst kind of sexual offences."
The BBC has not commented on the alleged email.
In his blog earlier this month defending his decision to pull the probe, Mr Rippon said he was "guided by editorial considerations only", adding some of the team "disagreed strongly with [his] judgement" while others "agreed equally strongly".In his blog earlier this month defending his decision to pull the probe, Mr Rippon said he was "guided by editorial considerations only", adding some of the team "disagreed strongly with [his] judgement" while others "agreed equally strongly".
But 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 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".
Mr Entwistle said he had asked Mr Rippon to step aside because of inaccuracies in the blog.Mr Entwistle said he had asked Mr Rippon to step aside because of inaccuracies in the blog.
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.
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 not 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.
Later Mr Entwistle emailed BBC staff to pledge the corporation was "determined to be open and transparent, however painful it may feel at times"Later Mr Entwistle emailed BBC staff to pledge the corporation was "determined to be open and transparent, however painful it may feel at times"
He added: "It is only by opening ourselves up that we can restore and maintain the trust of our audiences."He added: "It is only by opening ourselves up that we can restore and maintain the trust of our audiences."
On Monday, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will begin 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.On Monday, former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith will begin 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.
Culture secretary Mrs Miller wrote to Lord Patten: "In all our conversations we have talked about the paramount importance of full public trust in the BBC's inquiries and agreed that it is essential that licence fee payers can be assured that they are being conducted thoroughly and with the full cooperation of the BBC, in line with the Trust's duty to 'ensure that the BBC observes high standards of openness and transparency'." Culture secretary Mrs Miller wrote to Lord Patten: "We have talked about the paramount importance of full public trust in the BBC's inquiries and agreed that it is essential that licence fee payers can be assured that they are being conducted thoroughly and with the full co-operation of the BBC."
She added it was "vital that these inquiries are able to follow the evidence wherever it takes them" and welcomed Lord Patten's "commitment" that would happen.
Lord Patten replied: "You have recognised both the credibility and the scope of those who are leading the inquiries and the wide scope of their terms of reference."Lord Patten replied: "You have recognised both the credibility and the scope of those who are leading the inquiries and the wide scope of their terms of reference."
But he issued a warning that the Government should not wade into the row: "I know that you will not want to give any impression that you are questioning the independence of the BBC," he said.But he issued a warning that the Government should not wade into the row: "I know that you will not want to give any impression that you are questioning the independence of the BBC," he said.
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.