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Crisis talks at BBC as Lord Patten searches for a new leader Crisis talks at BBC as Lord Patten searches for a new leader
(35 minutes later)
The BBC's governing body, the BBC Trust, held an emergency meeting on Sunday night as the broadcaster reeled from the humiliating Saturday night resignation of the director general, George Entwistle, after just 53 days in the top job in British television.The BBC's governing body, the BBC Trust, held an emergency meeting on Sunday night as the broadcaster reeled from the humiliating Saturday night resignation of the director general, George Entwistle, after just 53 days in the top job in British television.
The BBC chairman, Lord Patten, said privately that he expected to speak again to the director general candidates Caroline Thomson, the BBC's former chief operating officer, Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive, and "one or two other names" in a bid to rapidly recruit a new leader for the crisis-hit broadcaster.The BBC chairman, Lord Patten, said privately that he expected to speak again to the director general candidates Caroline Thomson, the BBC's former chief operating officer, Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive, and "one or two other names" in a bid to rapidly recruit a new leader for the crisis-hit broadcaster.
Patten – also under fire for choosing the underperforming Entwistle – told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 that the BBC Trust would have to appoint a successor "with a few weeks rather than a lot of months". Interviewing previously shortlisted candidates and a few chosen others could help him achieve that.Patten – also under fire for choosing the underperforming Entwistle – told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 that the BBC Trust would have to appoint a successor "with a few weeks rather than a lot of months". Interviewing previously shortlisted candidates and a few chosen others could help him achieve that.
It has emerged that Entwistle will receive a £450,000 payoff – equivalent to a year's salary – even though he stepped down having concluded that the BBC "should appoint a new leader" after he struggled to contend with the fallout from the Jimmy Savile child abuse crisis.It has emerged that Entwistle will receive a £450,000 payoff – equivalent to a year's salary – even though he stepped down having concluded that the BBC "should appoint a new leader" after he struggled to contend with the fallout from the Jimmy Savile child abuse crisis.
Amid repeated comparisons to the Hutton crisis that led to the departure of the BBC's then director general, Greg Dyke, and its chairman, Gavyn Davies, in 2004, No 10 remained determined to keep its distance – thereby avoiding accusations it was capitalising on the BBC's weakness for political benefit.Amid repeated comparisons to the Hutton crisis that led to the departure of the BBC's then director general, Greg Dyke, and its chairman, Gavyn Davies, in 2004, No 10 remained determined to keep its distance – thereby avoiding accusations it was capitalising on the BBC's weakness for political benefit.
With David Cameron being kept informed by his director of communications, the former BBC editor David Oliver, Downing Street was indicating it wanted Patten to be given time to get a grip. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, tweeting, said that the BBC needed to put in place "a strong DG" and that it was necessary "to restore trust in one of our great national institutions". With David Cameron being kept informed by his director of communications, the former BBC editor Craig Oliver, Downing Street was indicating it wanted Patten to be given time to get a grip. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, tweeting, said that the BBC needed to put in place "a strong DG" and that it was necessary "to restore trust in one of our great national institutions".
Entwistle's departure also did little to steady nerves inside a rumour-hit BBC, with journalists working on Newsnight still unclear if the BBC2 programme would go out as usual on Monday, pending an emergency review of the circumstances surrounding a report that wrongly linked the former Conservative party treasurer Lord McAlpine to child sexual abuse.Entwistle's departure also did little to steady nerves inside a rumour-hit BBC, with journalists working on Newsnight still unclear if the BBC2 programme would go out as usual on Monday, pending an emergency review of the circumstances surrounding a report that wrongly linked the former Conservative party treasurer Lord McAlpine to child sexual abuse.
The acting director general, Tim Davie, is on Monday expected to set out his plans for dealing with the crisis created by the Newsnight broadcast.The acting director general, Tim Davie, is on Monday expected to set out his plans for dealing with the crisis created by the Newsnight broadcast.
Insiders said there were some internal doubts over the Newsnight film, which although it did not name McAlpine, referred to historic allegations connected with a north Wales child abuse scandal in such a way that it was possible to easily identify him via the internet.Insiders said there were some internal doubts over the Newsnight film, which although it did not name McAlpine, referred to historic allegations connected with a north Wales child abuse scandal in such a way that it was possible to easily identify him via the internet.
It is understood that Newsnight's political editor, Allegra Stratton, had such grave concerns over the allegations made by abuse victim Steve Messham and the possible Twitter implications for those involved that she refused to conduct a two-way interview for the programme. Stratton, however, would not confirm this.It is understood that Newsnight's political editor, Allegra Stratton, had such grave concerns over the allegations made by abuse victim Steve Messham and the possible Twitter implications for those involved that she refused to conduct a two-way interview for the programme. Stratton, however, would not confirm this.
There were also talk of fierce battles at the top of the BBC, as Davie attempted to ease the crisis – and speculation that other BBC executives had come under pressure to step aside from their roles while various inquiries into Newsnight continue.There were also talk of fierce battles at the top of the BBC, as Davie attempted to ease the crisis – and speculation that other BBC executives had come under pressure to step aside from their roles while various inquiries into Newsnight continue.
Patten indicated that he was keen on a wider structural overhaul of the corporation, offering vague proposals to appoint a strong "editorial figure" to complement the work of the director general. The chairman said "there is a case" for splitting the roles of director general and editor in chief, although this would require an emergency rewrite of the BBC's governing royal charter.Patten indicated that he was keen on a wider structural overhaul of the corporation, offering vague proposals to appoint a strong "editorial figure" to complement the work of the director general. The chairman said "there is a case" for splitting the roles of director general and editor in chief, although this would require an emergency rewrite of the BBC's governing royal charter.
An emergency review into the erroneous McAlpine report led by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland, was sent to Davie on Sunday night – while a second review, the Nick Pollard review of last year's decision to axe an investigation into sexual abuse by Savile, is due to begin holding interviews with those at the heart of that affair this week.An emergency review into the erroneous McAlpine report led by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland, was sent to Davie on Sunday night – while a second review, the Nick Pollard review of last year's decision to axe an investigation into sexual abuse by Savile, is due to begin holding interviews with those at the heart of that affair this week.
The BBC Trust also met Davie to hear the outcome of the MacQuarrie review, with the body saying that it was "looking forward to him setting out tomorrow his plans" for dealing with "some of issues" arising from the McAlpine broadcast.The BBC Trust also met Davie to hear the outcome of the MacQuarrie review, with the body saying that it was "looking forward to him setting out tomorrow his plans" for dealing with "some of issues" arising from the McAlpine broadcast.
It is understood that Davie himself had no part in approving the McAlpine broadcast, which went out under the auspices of the programme editor Liz Gibbons and the acting BBC news chief, the 5 Live boss Adrian van Klaveren.It is understood that Davie himself had no part in approving the McAlpine broadcast, which went out under the auspices of the programme editor Liz Gibbons and the acting BBC news chief, the 5 Live boss Adrian van Klaveren.
There was also some residual unhappiness with Entwistle, who implied that he had not been informed of a Guardian report on Thursday night that Lord McAlpine was a victim of mistaken identity on the part of Messham.There was also some residual unhappiness with Entwistle, who implied that he had not been informed of a Guardian report on Thursday night that Lord McAlpine was a victim of mistaken identity on the part of Messham.
It is understood that the report was discussed in the BBC management's 9am call – but Entwistle was not listening in because he was preparing to give a speech later that morning, outlining the BBC's priorities in 2013.It is understood that the report was discussed in the BBC management's 9am call – but Entwistle was not listening in because he was preparing to give a speech later that morning, outlining the BBC's priorities in 2013.
Meanwhile, those familiar with the evidence already collected by Pollard say that Entwistle – who is still expected to give evidence – will have to explain why he rejected a personal appeal from the Newsnight journalist Meirion Jones on 16 October to discuss errors in the contents of a blog written by the programme editor Peter Rippon.Meanwhile, those familiar with the evidence already collected by Pollard say that Entwistle – who is still expected to give evidence – will have to explain why he rejected a personal appeal from the Newsnight journalist Meirion Jones on 16 October to discuss errors in the contents of a blog written by the programme editor Peter Rippon.
There was also uncertainty about the future for the Bureau for Investigative Journalism, whose reporter Angus Stickler had generated the 2 November Newsnight report that linked McAlpine to child sexual abuse.There was also uncertainty about the future for the Bureau for Investigative Journalism, whose reporter Angus Stickler had generated the 2 November Newsnight report that linked McAlpine to child sexual abuse.
Stickler has declined to comment, but the bureau's editor, Iain Overton, who tweeted before the broadcast that Newsnight was about to out "a very senior political figure who is a paedophile", is believed to be considering stepping aside.Stickler has declined to comment, but the bureau's editor, Iain Overton, who tweeted before the broadcast that Newsnight was about to out "a very senior political figure who is a paedophile", is believed to be considering stepping aside.