This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/03/alan-yentob-bbc-kids-company-tony-hall

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Alan Yentob leaves role at a crucial time for the BBC Alan Yentob leaves role at a crucial time for the BBC
(about 2 hours later)
After months of gossip and attack, Alan Yentob has finally been convinced that questions about his involvement in the Kids Company affair are a “serious distraction” for the BBC and that he should give up his role as a highly paid BBC executive.After months of gossip and attack, Alan Yentob has finally been convinced that questions about his involvement in the Kids Company affair are a “serious distraction” for the BBC and that he should give up his role as a highly paid BBC executive.
“The BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction,” said Yentob, in a statement announcing his resignation.“The BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction,” said Yentob, in a statement announcing his resignation.
The question is, why now? At 68, having agreed to stay on past retirement to help his great friend, director general Tony Hall, deal with running the BBC during charter renewal, Yentob could have been put on a temporary leave of absence earlier this year when the controversy over the financing of Kids Company, the now defunct charity he helped establish, first emerged.The question is, why now? At 68, having agreed to stay on past retirement to help his great friend, director general Tony Hall, deal with running the BBC during charter renewal, Yentob could have been put on a temporary leave of absence earlier this year when the controversy over the financing of Kids Company, the now defunct charity he helped establish, first emerged.
Even before the Kids Company debacle, Yentob had long provoked controversy over his £183,000-a-year salary and his high-profile friendships with the stars. Over the past year, he became the lightning rod for the sense that the BBC was both profligate and unaccountable, and at a time in which the BBC needs all the support it can muster in the run-up to charter renewal, Yentob’s involvement in Kids Company was a major problem.Even before the Kids Company debacle, Yentob had long provoked controversy over his £183,000-a-year salary and his high-profile friendships with the stars. Over the past year, he became the lightning rod for the sense that the BBC was both profligate and unaccountable, and at a time in which the BBC needs all the support it can muster in the run-up to charter renewal, Yentob’s involvement in Kids Company was a major problem.
Instead of a withdrawal from both roles, he was left in situ as both a senior executive and on-screen talent, a highly respected and admired broadcaster but one who raised eyebrows for behaviour increasingly deemed unacceptable, even within the BBC, for such a great friend of the boss.Instead of a withdrawal from both roles, he was left in situ as both a senior executive and on-screen talent, a highly respected and admired broadcaster but one who raised eyebrows for behaviour increasingly deemed unacceptable, even within the BBC, for such a great friend of the boss.
Whether over details of his expenses – still claiming first class flights for long haul travel – or his lifestyle, Yentob’s every move was seized on for signs of excess. Almost exactly a year ago, he hosted a lavish event to celebrate his award from the Media Society. Held at the Millennium Hotel in central London, the event lasted several hours and featured film tributes from Mel Brooks, Mick Jagger and Harry Enfield. Sitting next to Hall, Yentob’s table included Conservative minister Ed Vaizey, Rona Fairhead and BBC non-executive director Sir Howard Stringer, the former boss of Sony.Whether over details of his expenses – still claiming first class flights for long haul travel – or his lifestyle, Yentob’s every move was seized on for signs of excess. Almost exactly a year ago, he hosted a lavish event to celebrate his award from the Media Society. Held at the Millennium Hotel in central London, the event lasted several hours and featured film tributes from Mel Brooks, Mick Jagger and Harry Enfield. Sitting next to Hall, Yentob’s table included Conservative minister Ed Vaizey, Rona Fairhead and BBC non-executive director Sir Howard Stringer, the former boss of Sony.
Later it emerged from a freedom of information request sent by the Sunday Times that the BBC paid for 16 of Yentob’s associates to attend the party, using £2,400 of licence fee-payers’ money.Later it emerged from a freedom of information request sent by the Sunday Times that the BBC paid for 16 of Yentob’s associates to attend the party, using £2,400 of licence fee-payers’ money.
But it was his involvement in Kids Company that seems finally to have done for the much-admired broadcaster.But it was his involvement in Kids Company that seems finally to have done for the much-admired broadcaster.
At every event that director general Hall has attended in recent months, whether to talk about the future of the BBC or the present, there is always a question, usually from the Daily Mail, about whether Yentob should have been sacked.At every event that director general Hall has attended in recent months, whether to talk about the future of the BBC or the present, there is always a question, usually from the Daily Mail, about whether Yentob should have been sacked.
In October, Yentob said the idea that he was leaving the BBC was “ridiculous and completely untrue”. Yet, it seems he had already started talking to Hall about his position and privately worried that his ability to attract headlines could affect the public’s view of the BBC.In October, Yentob said the idea that he was leaving the BBC was “ridiculous and completely untrue”. Yet, it seems he had already started talking to Hall about his position and privately worried that his ability to attract headlines could affect the public’s view of the BBC.
In his public statement, Hall said that a man described by insiders as his right hand man did not “influence” the BBC’s reporting of Kids Company.In his public statement, Hall said that a man described by insiders as his right hand man did not “influence” the BBC’s reporting of Kids Company.
But in October, Yentob admitted to MPs that he had telephoned a staff member at Newsnight to ask him to delay a critical report into the charity. There was “shouting” involved.But in October, Yentob admitted to MPs that he had telephoned a staff member at Newsnight to ask him to delay a critical report into the charity. There was “shouting” involved.
Even more controversially perhaps Yentob also admitted that while Camila Batmanghelidjih, the founder of Kids Company, was interviewed on the Radio 4’s Today programme in July, he stood beside one of the show’s producers. BBC news executives say his appearance in the control room, a place only open to senior BBC executives, was a mistake.Even more controversially perhaps Yentob also admitted that while Camila Batmanghelidjih, the founder of Kids Company, was interviewed on the Radio 4’s Today programme in July, he stood beside one of the show’s producers. BBC news executives say his appearance in the control room, a place only open to senior BBC executives, was a mistake.
He may not have any direct reports in news but phone calls to his friends on presenting teams are tricky for a man known to be so close to the ultimate boss. “If it was intimidating I regret it,” he told MPs.He may not have any direct reports in news but phone calls to his friends on presenting teams are tricky for a man known to be so close to the ultimate boss. “If it was intimidating I regret it,” he told MPs.
In his statement regarding Yentob’s decision to step down, Hall said: “For the record, BBC News considered whether Alan Yentob had influenced the BBC’s journalism on the reporting of Kids Company,” said Hall. “They concluded that he did not.”In his statement regarding Yentob’s decision to step down, Hall said: “For the record, BBC News considered whether Alan Yentob had influenced the BBC’s journalism on the reporting of Kids Company,” said Hall. “They concluded that he did not.”
However, the BBC Trust is investigating whether Yentob broke editorial guidelines over his involvement in the corporation’s reporting on Kids Company. The BBC Trust has also said it found no evidence that news output had been affected and that now Yentob has stood down it would “not be proportionate, appropriate or cost effective” to launch an investigation.
Perhaps ironically, a woman considered a busted flush all year was in fact the one to indicate that the timing was right for Yentob to stand down. When Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC Trust, said there were still questions to be asked about the creative director on Wednesday’s Today programme she was obviously closer to the decision making process than many realised.Perhaps ironically, a woman considered a busted flush all year was in fact the one to indicate that the timing was right for Yentob to stand down. When Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC Trust, said there were still questions to be asked about the creative director on Wednesday’s Today programme she was obviously closer to the decision making process than many realised.
Even those BBC executives who are not friends of Yentob believe he was a great defender of the corporation. Passionate and extremely knowlegeable, Yentob could not resist holding forth about the failures of the government’s position over News at Ten in front of reporters in September, at the height of the controversy over Kids Company.Even those BBC executives who are not friends of Yentob believe he was a great defender of the corporation. Passionate and extremely knowlegeable, Yentob could not resist holding forth about the failures of the government’s position over News at Ten in front of reporters in September, at the height of the controversy over Kids Company.
His support for the charity, which he partly funded with his own money, was entirely genuine, and he spoke repeatedly about fears for the children involved.His support for the charity, which he partly funded with his own money, was entirely genuine, and he spoke repeatedly about fears for the children involved.
A senior executive close to both Hall and Yentob said the impact of Thursday’s announcement would not be as great as people think, as Yentob will continue to advise Hall, a man he is said to have identified as a director general many years before Hall took on the role.A senior executive close to both Hall and Yentob said the impact of Thursday’s announcement would not be as great as people think, as Yentob will continue to advise Hall, a man he is said to have identified as a director general many years before Hall took on the role.
This executive also backed the corporate line that it was Yentob’s decision to step down to avoid the continuing drum roll of discontent.This executive also backed the corporate line that it was Yentob’s decision to step down to avoid the continuing drum roll of discontent.
“Alan is a lovable guy,” he said. “And his idiosyncratic intellect should be more helpful than ever now.” More helpful perhaps without the official executive role and pay packet.“Alan is a lovable guy,” he said. “And his idiosyncratic intellect should be more helpful than ever now.” More helpful perhaps without the official executive role and pay packet.