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BBC bosses were 'faffing about' during Jimmy Savile row, says Lord Patten BBC bosses were 'faffing about' during Jimmy Savile row, says Lord Patten
(7 months later)
Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman, has painted a vivid picture of the chaos that engulfed the corporation's senior management during last autumn's Jimmy Savile crisis, saying there was an impression of "frantic faffing about" around former director general George Entwistle.Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman, has painted a vivid picture of the chaos that engulfed the corporation's senior management during last autumn's Jimmy Savile crisis, saying there was an impression of "frantic faffing about" around former director general George Entwistle.
During his appearance before the BBC internal inquiry on the Savile scandal, Patten was also asked if he was aware that the corporation's senior management planned to make Newsnight editor Peter Rippon "the fall guy" for the crisis. Patten said he not aware of this.During his appearance before the BBC internal inquiry on the Savile scandal, Patten was also asked if he was aware that the corporation's senior management planned to make Newsnight editor Peter Rippon "the fall guy" for the crisis. Patten said he not aware of this.
He blamed the "horrible screw-up" surrounding the Savile scandal on the Chinese-style management legacy of the corporation's former director general Mark Thompson, as well as the failings of his successor George Entwistle.He blamed the "horrible screw-up" surrounding the Savile scandal on the Chinese-style management legacy of the corporation's former director general Mark Thompson, as well as the failings of his successor George Entwistle.
It has also emerged in Patten's evidence, published as part of the Pollard inquiry transcripts on Friday, that the former BBC director general John Birt tried to come to Entwistle's rescue, giving him advice in a note before his disastrous appearance before MPs on the Commons culture, media and sport select committee last October.It has also emerged in Patten's evidence, published as part of the Pollard inquiry transcripts on Friday, that the former BBC director general John Birt tried to come to Entwistle's rescue, giving him advice in a note before his disastrous appearance before MPs on the Commons culture, media and sport select committee last October.
Patten's evidence lifts the lid on both the extraordinary 54 days of Entwistle's reign as director general – he resigned in November after being overwhelmed by the Savile scandal – but also "a silo" management structure that he had inherited from Thompson, who left the BBC in September.Patten's evidence lifts the lid on both the extraordinary 54 days of Entwistle's reign as director general – he resigned in November after being overwhelmed by the Savile scandal – but also "a silo" management structure that he had inherited from Thompson, who left the BBC in September.
He said the corporation under Thompson, director general for eight years, had "more senior leaders than China", with 25 to 27 staff on the senior management team. "They never met," Patten added.He said the corporation under Thompson, director general for eight years, had "more senior leaders than China", with 25 to 27 staff on the senior management team. "They never met," Patten added.
But he added that it wasn't lack of management at the BBC that caused things to be "horribly screwed up" during the Savile crisis – the problem was the weak team around Entwistle. "I don't think the BBC needs more senior people in order to avoid making basic mistakes."But he added that it wasn't lack of management at the BBC that caused things to be "horribly screwed up" during the Savile crisis – the problem was the weak team around Entwistle. "I don't think the BBC needs more senior people in order to avoid making basic mistakes."
Patten said Entwistle's lack of knowledge of Newsnight's Savile sex abuse investigation, which was abandoned in December 2011 when the future director general was in charge of TV channels as BBC Vision director, was ironic given how frequently during his interview for the top post he referred to the "silo" culture that had taken root under Thompson.Patten said Entwistle's lack of knowledge of Newsnight's Savile sex abuse investigation, which was abandoned in December 2011 when the future director general was in charge of TV channels as BBC Vision director, was ironic given how frequently during his interview for the top post he referred to the "silo" culture that had taken root under Thompson.
Entwistle "talked a good game about all this" and reduced the number of managers on the senior leader's group to 12 or fewer, Patten told the Pollard inquiry.Entwistle "talked a good game about all this" and reduced the number of managers on the senior leader's group to 12 or fewer, Patten told the Pollard inquiry.
Patten was scathing about the "chaotic" communications operation last October. He was asked about a decision to hire PR firm Brunswick and one of its senior executives, the former Sun editor Yelland, to advise Entwistle.Patten was scathing about the "chaotic" communications operation last October. He was asked about a decision to hire PR firm Brunswick and one of its senior executives, the former Sun editor Yelland, to advise Entwistle.
This decision was quickly reversed. "I thought to have David Yelland ... being trooped through the newsroom at the BBC to brief the director general, that seem to me to be a seriously lousy story," Patten said.This decision was quickly reversed. "I thought to have David Yelland ... being trooped through the newsroom at the BBC to brief the director general, that seem to me to be a seriously lousy story," Patten said.
"While we were pressing him to get a rather stronger team around him, the one thing we did suggest was that hiring Brunswick was not a very good idea.""While we were pressing him to get a rather stronger team around him, the one thing we did suggest was that hiring Brunswick was not a very good idea."
Yelland has denied he was hired or fired issuing this statement on Friday. "For accuracy Brunswick at no point advised the BBC and nor did I. We were not fired as we were never hired or even met with them. They called us but that was it," he said.Yelland has denied he was hired or fired issuing this statement on Friday. "For accuracy Brunswick at no point advised the BBC and nor did I. We were not fired as we were never hired or even met with them. They called us but that was it," he said.
The BBC corporate PR team also comes in for some heavy fire. Patten said the BBC's communications was "chaotic" and some of the advice that Entwistle was getting "for example on some of his own appearances, was, I think, pretty bizarre".The BBC corporate PR team also comes in for some heavy fire. Patten said the BBC's communications was "chaotic" and some of the advice that Entwistle was getting "for example on some of his own appearances, was, I think, pretty bizarre".
By way of contrast, he added that acting director general Tim Davie, who took over when Entwistle resigned in November, has "two or three experienced people around him" and there is no longer this "impression of frantic faffing about" when he walks into his office.By way of contrast, he added that acting director general Tim Davie, who took over when Entwistle resigned in November, has "two or three experienced people around him" and there is no longer this "impression of frantic faffing about" when he walks into his office.
There is also discussion in Patten's evidence of a secret BBC plan to make Rippon, who took the decision not to broadcast a Newsnight investigation into Savile sex abuse allegations in December 2011, "the fall guy" for the crisis that ensued when the story eventually came out in October last year.There is also discussion in Patten's evidence of a secret BBC plan to make Rippon, who took the decision not to broadcast a Newsnight investigation into Savile sex abuse allegations in December 2011, "the fall guy" for the crisis that ensued when the story eventually came out in October last year.
Nick Pollard, the former head of Sky New who ran the inquiry, put it to Patten that the day after ITV's 3 October 2012 Savile sex abuse documentary there was a plan hatched for Entwistle to make a statement, "the intended purpose and effect of which would be compel Peter Rippon to resign". Patten replied that he was not aware of this plan and the statement in question was never issued by the BBC.Nick Pollard, the former head of Sky New who ran the inquiry, put it to Patten that the day after ITV's 3 October 2012 Savile sex abuse documentary there was a plan hatched for Entwistle to make a statement, "the intended purpose and effect of which would be compel Peter Rippon to resign". Patten replied that he was not aware of this plan and the statement in question was never issued by the BBC.
He confirmed to Pollard that Birt intervened at one point but does not discuss the detail of his advice.He confirmed to Pollard that Birt intervened at one point but does not discuss the detail of his advice.
"I think John Birt gave perfectly good advice," he said. Patten added that ultimately Entwistle was knocked sideways when the culture select committee tried to "pin him on the number of cases of sexual abuse that had been reported to the BBC" and although he could answer the question "he was put off by the ranting"."I think John Birt gave perfectly good advice," he said. Patten added that ultimately Entwistle was knocked sideways when the culture select committee tried to "pin him on the number of cases of sexual abuse that had been reported to the BBC" and although he could answer the question "he was put off by the ranting".
Patten said some people at the BBC thought Rippon would make "a convenient fall guy" and could be "hung out to dry" but that the BBC Trust "never got to that position".Patten said some people at the BBC thought Rippon would make "a convenient fall guy" and could be "hung out to dry" but that the BBC Trust "never got to that position".
He was also asked if he was aware that Entwistle had told the Pollard inquiry relationships within the BBC were "just so poisoned and toxic".He was also asked if he was aware that Entwistle had told the Pollard inquiry relationships within the BBC were "just so poisoned and toxic".
Entwistle recalled how Meirion Jones, the Newsnight investigations producer who worked on the ditched Savile story, waited outside a lift for 20 minutes to half an hour in the hope of catching him to discuss the issue.Entwistle recalled how Meirion Jones, the Newsnight investigations producer who worked on the ditched Savile story, waited outside a lift for 20 minutes to half an hour in the hope of catching him to discuss the issue.
But Entwistle said he refused to talk to him because he thought Jones would leak to the Guardian or the Times "before he got the words out of his mouth".But Entwistle said he refused to talk to him because he thought Jones would leak to the Guardian or the Times "before he got the words out of his mouth".
Pollard put it to Patten that one of the BBC's problems was that so few of its executives had outside experience. Appointing Entwistle as director general was going "to perpetuate that problem of BBC lifers managing other BBC lifers", he said.Pollard put it to Patten that one of the BBC's problems was that so few of its executives had outside experience. Appointing Entwistle as director general was going "to perpetuate that problem of BBC lifers managing other BBC lifers", he said.
Patten responded that Entwistle "was saying all the right things about how to manage the process better" in the first 11 days of his 54-day reign, but things began to unravel after the Savile scandal blew up.Patten responded that Entwistle "was saying all the right things about how to manage the process better" in the first 11 days of his 54-day reign, but things began to unravel after the Savile scandal blew up.
He said he thought the handling of Rippon's 2 October blog explaining the decision to shelve Newsnight's Savile story, which was later found to contain inaccuracies that were not corrected for three weeks, was "ham-fisted". "It does seem to me that there are reasonable grounds for assuming that people knew the blog was dodgy a lot earlier and that we were left defending something which wasn't true."He said he thought the handling of Rippon's 2 October blog explaining the decision to shelve Newsnight's Savile story, which was later found to contain inaccuracies that were not corrected for three weeks, was "ham-fisted". "It does seem to me that there are reasonable grounds for assuming that people knew the blog was dodgy a lot earlier and that we were left defending something which wasn't true."
Patten added that he was able to glean what was happening from "reading the newspapers ... in particular the stories that appeared in the Guardian" rather than BBC executive management.Patten added that he was able to glean what was happening from "reading the newspapers ... in particular the stories that appeared in the Guardian" rather than BBC executive management.
He also revealed how Entwistle initially persuaded him not to launch an inquiry into Newsnight's aborted Savile story in early October, shortly after ITV's documentary was broadcast. "George persuaded me that wasn't a very good idea."He also revealed how Entwistle initially persuaded him not to launch an inquiry into Newsnight's aborted Savile story in early October, shortly after ITV's documentary was broadcast. "George persuaded me that wasn't a very good idea."
However, according to Patten, within 24 hours Entwistle had changed his mind, but at this point it was too late for his own PR strategy.However, according to Patten, within 24 hours Entwistle had changed his mind, but at this point it was too late for his own PR strategy.
Patten had already committed to making his first comments to the media about the crisis that was engulfing the BBC, and had lined up a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch with journalists and an interview on Radio 4's The Media Show with presenter Steve Hewlett explaining how an investigation would not be necessary.Patten had already committed to making his first comments to the media about the crisis that was engulfing the BBC, and had lined up a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch with journalists and an interview on Radio 4's The Media Show with presenter Steve Hewlett explaining how an investigation would not be necessary.
"[I] came out of the studio and George called me to say he thought ... I was now right, and that we should have this inquiry."[I] came out of the studio and George called me to say he thought ... I was now right, and that we should have this inquiry.
"So I just wished that the executive had come to a different view before I had done the lunch or the Steve Hewlett programme.""So I just wished that the executive had come to a different view before I had done the lunch or the Steve Hewlett programme."
He also said that the absence of a deputy director general was not the issue in terms of the BBC's failure to deal with the Savile crisis. The corporation had scrapped the role following the departure of Mark Byford in 2011 and critics have said this was the root of the problem as it burdened the director general with too much responsibility.He also said that the absence of a deputy director general was not the issue in terms of the BBC's failure to deal with the Savile crisis. The corporation had scrapped the role following the departure of Mark Byford in 2011 and critics have said this was the root of the problem as it burdened the director general with too much responsibility.
"I don't think that the BBC needs more senior people in order to avoid making basic mistakes," says Patten."I don't think that the BBC needs more senior people in order to avoid making basic mistakes," says Patten.
"I mean, in this case, you have a director general, a head of news ... somebody responsible for current affairs and an experienced editor ... things still get horribly screwed up.""I mean, in this case, you have a director general, a head of news ... somebody responsible for current affairs and an experienced editor ... things still get horribly screwed up."
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