The Department of Media Culture and Sport this week unveiled its mid-term review of the BBC Charter and to call it a “damp squib” would be dangerously overselling it. There is nothing – absolutely zilch – in these proposals that will do anything to ensure that people who complain about bias at the BBC will get satisfaction. Instead, the review will reinforce a cosy internal mechanism which is all about protecting the BBC’s reputation; after this, the Corporation can confidently proceed according
A defender of the status quo: Richard Sharp
As a man will plenty of things to worry about the Director General of the BBC, Tim Davie, can this evening cross at least one thing off his list; he’s not going to have any problems with the Corporation’s likely new Chairman. Richard Sharp, the chairman-designate, was up in front of the Digital, Media Culture and Sports select committee. And if you think that sounds like a daunting prospect, it wasn’t.
Because, as it turns out, Mr Sharp is going to be very much a continuity chairman – a man who really isn’t going to rock the boat. Which put him very much in sync with the committee – but not most of the BBC’s critics.