BBC former director-general Tony Hall calls in the lawyers over how he is portrayed in a forthcoming Panorama on the Martin Bashir controversy Until last August, Lord Tony Hall ran BBC but has instructed lawyers to fire salvo Panorama carried out investigation into the way Bashir obtained Diana interview Documentary probes how BBC executives handled worries … Read more
Gary Lineker has insisted the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie is ‘perfectly happy’ with his conduct on Twitter after he issued new ‘impartiality’ guidelines in a bid to crack down on outspoken stars. The director-general set out new guidelines on Thursday aiming to ‘ensure the highest possible standards of impartiality’ among staff in the wake of the damning criticisms … Read more
Some of the BBC’s top comedy shows have faced criticism in recent years over perceived left-wing bias, while BBC comedians have also faced criticism over political comments and jokes. Last year, comedian Jo Brand made a joke on BBC Radio Four’s comedy show Heresy about throwing battery acid over ‘unpleasant’ politicians. She branded the throwing … Read more
BBC’s new director-general Tim Davie is ‘open’ to replacing licence fee with Netflix-style subscription Davie, 53, has been ordered to come up with a viable funding model for the BBC Among measures floated is a subscription model similar to Netflix or Amazon Conservative minister said there is ‘real optimism’ about Davie’s pragmatism By Helena Kelly For … Read more
When Slovenia recently became the 50th country to make its own Strictly Come Dancing under BBC licence, there was a broad smile on Tim Davie’s face as he sat in his office at Broadcasting House. As head of BBC Worldwide, he masterminded an effective overseas sales drive of BBC staples such as Strictly and Top … Read more
BBC faces sexism row after appointing a 17th consecutive man as director-general: Carrie Gracie says it’s ‘disappointing’ that new boss Tim Davie is not a woman The BBC’s ex-China editor says Davie is white, male, Oxbridge and ‘not diverse’ She was joined by broadcaster Joan Bakewell in calling for a woman in the role Tim … Read more
Culture Minister Oliver Dowden blasts BBC director-general over bias in the wake of Panorama programme on the Government’s handling of Covid-19 Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has written to BBC director-general Tony Hall Urged him to ‘uphold highest standards in relation to integrity and impartiality’ Comes after Panorama programme critical of Government’s Covid-19 strategy The medical professionals interviewed … Read more
Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke calls the licence fee ‘dumb’ and suggests it has no place in modern television Mr Dyke, 72, led broadcaster from 2000 until 2004 and said fee is out of date He said the idea of a ‘compulsory tax on the TV set sitting in the corner’ is ‘dumb’ The licence … Read more