22 May 2021
LONDON (AP) Tony Hall, who was director of BBC news and current affairs at the time of the public broadcaster’s explosive 1995 interview with Princess Diana, resigned Saturday as board chairman of Britain’s National Gallery.
Hall, who subsequently rose to the top job at the BBC, was heavily criticized in a report this week for a botched inquiry into how journalist Martin Bashir obtained the blockbuster interview.
In a statement, Hall said his continued presence at the gallery would be a “distraction to an institution I care deeply about.”
“As I said two days ago, I am very sorry for the events of 25 years ago and I believe leadership means taking responsibility,” Hall said.
The government is finalising its choice for the vacant position of chair of the UK’s broadcasting and telecoms regulator, Ofcom. It’s potentially a contentious issue as, according to well-informed government leaks, former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre is in pole position for the job which – while notionally subject to an “independent” appointments process – is effectively in the prime minister’s “gift”.
There are many reasons why Dacre is arguably unsuitable for the job. Not least of those is his much-vaunted visceral hatred of the BBC (which Ofcom now regulates) and his lack of any relevant technical knowledge in the telecoms sector (he famously does not use a computer). But regardless of who becomes the next Ofcom chair, there is a broader issue which needs addressing: whether the regulator is still genuinely committed to promoting the interests of citizens.
BBC news: The licence fee costs Britons £157.50 (Image: EXPRESS)
“The reality is our comedy shows are awash with ‘woke’ jokes and there is nothing funny about such flagrant bias.
“Our research reveals primetime comedy shows are dominated by comedians who broadly share the same outlook and views on politics, Brexit and Britain.
“There are loads of talented comics out there holding small ‘c’ conservative, anti-woke and pro-Brexit views.
“The issue is they just aren’t getting booked by the BBC.”
Nish Kumar is booed off stage after making Brexit joke
In a statement to the Telegraph, a BBC spokesman insisted the corporation provides “a range of different voices and views” with its comedy.