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BBC Savile inquiry: key players BBC Savile inquiry: key players
(7 months later)
Lord PattenLord Patten
The chairman of the BBC Trust intervened a week after ITV exposed Jimmy Savile's child abuse in October. He denyied a cover-up and defended the then director general George Entwistle and other executives who knew about the shelving of a Newsnight report on the same subject in December 2011.The chairman of the BBC Trust intervened a week after ITV exposed Jimmy Savile's child abuse in October. He denyied a cover-up and defended the then director general George Entwistle and other executives who knew about the shelving of a Newsnight report on the same subject in December 2011.
Patten's Canute-like attempts to stop the crisis engulfing the BBC failed, however, and within weeks the corporation was in even deeper water with the catastrophic Newsnight broadcast of false allegations about Lord McAlpine.Patten's Canute-like attempts to stop the crisis engulfing the BBC failed, however, and within weeks the corporation was in even deeper water with the catastrophic Newsnight broadcast of false allegations about Lord McAlpine.
Patten has faced calls for his resignation over the Savile crisis, but has sought to move on from the affair with the swift appointment of the Royal Opera House chief executive Lord Hall as Entwistle's replacement.Patten has faced calls for his resignation over the Savile crisis, but has sought to move on from the affair with the swift appointment of the Royal Opera House chief executive Lord Hall as Entwistle's replacement.
George EntwistleGeorge Entwistle
The BBC's shortest-serving director general with just 54 days in charge, Entwistle resigned in November after a hapless interview with John Humphrys on the Today programme in the wake of Newsnight's defamatory McAlpine report.The BBC's shortest-serving director general with just 54 days in charge, Entwistle resigned in November after a hapless interview with John Humphrys on the Today programme in the wake of Newsnight's defamatory McAlpine report.
Entwistle, who controversially received a £450,000-plus payoff from the corporation, was described in former head of Sky News Nick Pollard's report as "unnecessarily cautious" when told about Newsnight's planned Savile report in late 2011.Entwistle, who controversially received a £450,000-plus payoff from the corporation, was described in former head of Sky News Nick Pollard's report as "unnecessarily cautious" when told about Newsnight's planned Savile report in late 2011.
Mark ThompsonMark Thompson
The former director general of the BBC, now chief executive of the New York Times, has admitted that he may have suffered a "lack of imagination" when he failed to ask detailed questions about why Newsnight's investigation was cancelled. He was told by a BBC foreign correspondent at a drinks party about the Savile investigation in December 2011.The former director general of the BBC, now chief executive of the New York Times, has admitted that he may have suffered a "lack of imagination" when he failed to ask detailed questions about why Newsnight's investigation was cancelled. He was told by a BBC foreign correspondent at a drinks party about the Savile investigation in December 2011.
Jeremy PaxmanJeremy Paxman
When Jeremy Paxman lambasted the "cowards and incompetents" he blamed for bringing down Entwistle, it prompted speculation that he would not return to Newsnight.When Jeremy Paxman lambasted the "cowards and incompetents" he blamed for bringing down Entwistle, it prompted speculation that he would not return to Newsnight.
In fact he remains the main presenter of BBC2's flagship news programme, which is still awaiting a new editor following the departure of Peter Rippon.In fact he remains the main presenter of BBC2's flagship news programme, which is still awaiting a new editor following the departure of Peter Rippon.
Paxman's most trenchant criticism of BBC management's handling of the Savile scandal has been censored from the Pollard inquiry transcripts.Paxman's most trenchant criticism of BBC management's handling of the Savile scandal has been censored from the Pollard inquiry transcripts.
Helen BoadenHelen Boaden
The BBC director of news appeared to survive criticism in the Pollard report, unlike her deputy Stephen Mitchell. It was widely thought, however, that she would not continue in the job, and in February Boaden accepted Hall's offer of a new job as director of radio, a role she had previously turned down when offered it by Entwistle.The BBC director of news appeared to survive criticism in the Pollard report, unlike her deputy Stephen Mitchell. It was widely thought, however, that she would not continue in the job, and in February Boaden accepted Hall's offer of a new job as director of radio, a role she had previously turned down when offered it by Entwistle.
Peter RipponPeter Rippon
The former Newsnight editor's decision to shelve a planned exposé of Jimmy Savile in December 2011 plunged the BBC into one of its worst crises after the revelations were subsequently aired on ITV in October last year. The Pollard report described the decision as "flawed [and] wrong" but "done in good faith". Rippon stepped aside from his job in October last year and was this week given a new role overseeing the BBC Online news archive.The former Newsnight editor's decision to shelve a planned exposé of Jimmy Savile in December 2011 plunged the BBC into one of its worst crises after the revelations were subsequently aired on ITV in October last year. The Pollard report described the decision as "flawed [and] wrong" but "done in good faith". Rippon stepped aside from his job in October last year and was this week given a new role overseeing the BBC Online news archive.
Meirion JonesMeirion Jones
The Newsnight investigative journalist and producer launched the investigation into Savile, including the experiences of girls at the Duncroft school for vulnerable children.The Newsnight investigative journalist and producer launched the investigation into Savile, including the experiences of girls at the Duncroft school for vulnerable children.
Jones had a stand-up row with BBC head of editorial policy, David Jordan, in the New Broadcasting House newsroom as the Savile crisis escalated in October. The Pollard report found he was also the subject of internal sniping, with one BBC News PR emailing a colleague to say they were planning to "drip poison" about him to the media amid suspicion he had leaked the fact that the late 2011 Savile investigation had been axed to the press.Jones had a stand-up row with BBC head of editorial policy, David Jordan, in the New Broadcasting House newsroom as the Savile crisis escalated in October. The Pollard report found he was also the subject of internal sniping, with one BBC News PR emailing a colleague to say they were planning to "drip poison" about him to the media amid suspicion he had leaked the fact that the late 2011 Savile investigation had been axed to the press.
Liz MackeanLiz Mackean
The Newsnight journalist worked with Jones on the axed story, interviewing some of Savile's victims for the first time on camera. Both Mackean, who is leaving the BBC shortly, and Jones were completely vindicated in the Pollard report.The Newsnight journalist worked with Jones on the axed story, interviewing some of Savile's victims for the first time on camera. Both Mackean, who is leaving the BBC shortly, and Jones were completely vindicated in the Pollard report.
"It has to be said clearly: there is no doubt, in my mind, that Mr Jones and Ms MacKean were right about Savile. Their belief that Savile had a history of abusing young women was correct. They provided Newsnight with cogent evidence of this. The programme could have broken the story almost a year before the ITV documentary revealed it," said Pollard."It has to be said clearly: there is no doubt, in my mind, that Mr Jones and Ms MacKean were right about Savile. Their belief that Savile had a history of abusing young women was correct. They provided Newsnight with cogent evidence of this. The programme could have broken the story almost a year before the ITV documentary revealed it," said Pollard.
David JordanDavid Jordan
The head of BBC editorial policy and standards, Jordan was involved in early efforts to defend Newsnight's decision not to run its Savile investigation in October. Some of his comments in broadcast interviews led to him having a stand-up row in the New Broadcasting House newsroom with Meirion Jones.The head of BBC editorial policy and standards, Jordan was involved in early efforts to defend Newsnight's decision not to run its Savile investigation in October. Some of his comments in broadcast interviews led to him having a stand-up row in the New Broadcasting House newsroom with Meirion Jones.
Stephen MitchellStephen Mitchell
The deputy director of BBC News had overall management responsibility for Newsnight and was the only executive to part company with the corporation in the wake of criticism of his role in the Savile debacle in the Pollard report.The deputy director of BBC News had overall management responsibility for Newsnight and was the only executive to part company with the corporation in the wake of criticism of his role in the Savile debacle in the Pollard report.
After 38 years he has decided to retire and will leave the BBC next year. He will not get a payoff, but his pension is likely to be substantial.After 38 years he has decided to retire and will leave the BBC next year. He will not get a payoff, but his pension is likely to be substantial.
Peter HorrocksPeter Horrocks
The BBC's director of global news was parachuted in to oversee the corporation's ongoing coverage of the Savile scandal after ITV's exposé of the sex abuse allegations, including a Panorama documentary, after executives including Helen Boaden and Stephen Mitchell were "recused". He immediately summoned Jones and Mackean to get the first hand account of what they believed had happened.The BBC's director of global news was parachuted in to oversee the corporation's ongoing coverage of the Savile scandal after ITV's exposé of the sex abuse allegations, including a Panorama documentary, after executives including Helen Boaden and Stephen Mitchell were "recused". He immediately summoned Jones and Mackean to get the first hand account of what they believed had happened.
Adrian Van KlaverenAdrian Van Klaveren
The former BBC Radio 5 Live controller was overseeing Newsnight's output at the time of its disastrous report wrongly linking Lord McAlpine to child sex abuse. He stepped down from his job following publication of the Pollard report in December and has since been given a new role overseeing the BBC's first world war centenary coverage.The former BBC Radio 5 Live controller was overseeing Newsnight's output at the time of its disastrous report wrongly linking Lord McAlpine to child sex abuse. He stepped down from his job following publication of the Pollard report in December and has since been given a new role overseeing the BBC's first world war centenary coverage.
Fran UnsworthFran Unsworth
The head of BBC newsgathering was asked to step into Boaden's shoes as acting head of news while the investigation into the Savile scandal took place. She began her new regime by trying to plug leaks to the press about the internal meltdown in BBC News.The head of BBC newsgathering was asked to step into Boaden's shoes as acting head of news while the investigation into the Savile scandal took place. She began her new regime by trying to plug leaks to the press about the internal meltdown in BBC News.
Liz GibbonsLiz Gibbons
The Newsnight deputy editor was made acting editor after Peter Rippon stepped aside in the wake of the Savile scandal. Gibbons oversaw the 2 November report wrongly linking Lord McAlpine to child sex abuse claims. Like Rippon, she is being moved to a new role, although it has not yet been announced.The Newsnight deputy editor was made acting editor after Peter Rippon stepped aside in the wake of the Savile scandal. Gibbons oversaw the 2 November report wrongly linking Lord McAlpine to child sex abuse claims. Like Rippon, she is being moved to a new role, although it has not yet been announced.
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