'Lessons learned' from Savile scandal, new BBC boss says
The lessons from the Jimmy Savile affair are being learnt by the BBC, the new director general said today.
Tony Hall said all of the recommendations of the Pollard Review were being implemented and he expected recommendations from two further reviews to be carried out too.
And speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, the new director general defended the decisions taken to move some figures involved to new positions in the organisation.
Mr Hall said: “The BBC has been through a rough time... it’s been even rougher for those affected by Savile too, and others.
“The Pollard review has been carried out and the recommendations of the Pollard review are now being implemented. We have two more reviews to come and I would be amazed if they were not implemented as well.
“I do think lessons have been learnt. You have got to understand what’s happened and make sure that does not happen again, and then rebuild trust in what is at the core of the BBC – which is the news services.”
Mr Hall said his predecessor George Entwistle had left the BBC and others had moved to other jobs in the wake of the scandal.
“I don’t say that is particularly good for them,” he said. “It’s not.”
The new director general said he had joined the BBC because he “cared passionately” about the organisation.
He said: “I don’t like rhetoric, I do believe this organisation needs a sense of confidence and direction of where it is going.
“I want to be able to demonstrate to everybody inside and outside that specific things are happening to take us in the direction I want to go.”
