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| BBC will learn the lessons of the Jimmy Savile scandal, says director general | BBC will learn the lessons of the Jimmy Savile scandal, says director general |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BBC director general Lord Hall has vowed the corporation will “learn the lessons” of the Jimmy Savile scandal so celebrities will never again be able to abuse victims with impunity. | BBC director general Lord Hall has vowed the corporation will “learn the lessons” of the Jimmy Savile scandal so celebrities will never again be able to abuse victims with impunity. |
| In his response to the Dame Janet Smith report into the scandal, which he called “one of the most important in the corporation’s history”, Hall promised a new “open BBC” in which staff were no longer too afraid to speak out as well as a full audit of policies designed to protect children and staff. | In his response to the Dame Janet Smith report into the scandal, which he called “one of the most important in the corporation’s history”, Hall promised a new “open BBC” in which staff were no longer too afraid to speak out as well as a full audit of policies designed to protect children and staff. |
| He added that the corporation had to be “eternally vigilant” to “help bring closure to this dark chapter”. | He added that the corporation had to be “eternally vigilant” to “help bring closure to this dark chapter”. |
| Related: 'Serious failings' at BBC let Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall go unchecked | Related: 'Serious failings' at BBC let Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall go unchecked |
| The BBC would implement Smith’s recommendations in full, which included a full audit, as well as introducing new procedures such as a campaign explaining its whistleblowing procedures to staff and further work with the NSPCC on child protection. | The BBC would implement Smith’s recommendations in full, which included a full audit, as well as introducing new procedures such as a campaign explaining its whistleblowing procedures to staff and further work with the NSPCC on child protection. |
| Hall apologised to the survivors of abuse, calling the report “horrific”. “I accept its conclusions and recommendations in full and equally important we have read, we have heard, we are listening and we understand,” he said. | Hall apologised to the survivors of abuse, calling the report “horrific”. “I accept its conclusions and recommendations in full and equally important we have read, we have heard, we are listening and we understand,” he said. |
| He also promised to act on Smith’s criticisms of the corporation’s veneration for talent, its hierarchical structure and lack of cohesion. | He also promised to act on Smith’s criticisms of the corporation’s veneration for talent, its hierarchical structure and lack of cohesion. |
| However, the promises to change were met with some sceptism. Miriam O’Reilly, the former Countryfile presenter who won an ageism case against the BBC, said staff were “still afraid to speak up”. In a tweet she blamed the “personal consequences” of speaking out about those in power. | |
| No surprise #BBC staff still afraid to speak up to Dame Janet Smith Inquiry. Too many personal consequences resulting from execs retribution | No surprise #BBC staff still afraid to speak up to Dame Janet Smith Inquiry. Too many personal consequences resulting from execs retribution |
| Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline and a former BBC presenter, said that abuse was a society-wide problem and needed a broader response. | Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of Childline and a former BBC presenter, said that abuse was a society-wide problem and needed a broader response. |
| Asked by the Guardian whether she was pessimistic about the BBC promises, Rantzen said: “I am”. She spoke of a recent case of sexual harassment at another broadcaster in which a young woman felt she couldn’t complain about the behaviour of so-called “talent” or ask for help. | Asked by the Guardian whether she was pessimistic about the BBC promises, Rantzen said: “I am”. She spoke of a recent case of sexual harassment at another broadcaster in which a young woman felt she couldn’t complain about the behaviour of so-called “talent” or ask for help. |
| Asked if the BBC’s promises will make a difference, Rantzen said: “It sounds like a dry set of policies but they’re practical and do protect children and young people.” | Asked if the BBC’s promises will make a difference, Rantzen said: “It sounds like a dry set of policies but they’re practical and do protect children and young people.” |
| Hall said the challenge was to keep working at change. “Like the Forth Bridge we have to keep working at it. We have made a lot of progress but there’s more progress to do.” | Hall said the challenge was to keep working at change. “Like the Forth Bridge we have to keep working at it. We have made a lot of progress but there’s more progress to do.” |
| He admitted however that the BBC contributed to the idea of Savile as the “nation’s favourite uncle”. “We made Savile a VIP and what this terrible episode teaches us is that fame is power and must be held to account,” he said. | He admitted however that the BBC contributed to the idea of Savile as the “nation’s favourite uncle”. “We made Savile a VIP and what this terrible episode teaches us is that fame is power and must be held to account,” he said. |
| Several times, Hall paid tribute to the survivors of historic abuse who gave evidence to the inquiry and said the BBC owed it to them not to let such abuse happen. “The stories of the survivors, once read, can never be forgotten.” | Several times, Hall paid tribute to the survivors of historic abuse who gave evidence to the inquiry and said the BBC owed it to them not to let such abuse happen. “The stories of the survivors, once read, can never be forgotten.” |
| He promised to report progress “in full” in July alongside the annual report. |