BBC Acting Director Vows To 'Get A Grip' Of The Corporation

Following the resignation of George Entwistle over a Newsnight broadcast on child abuse allegations, the new acting director general of the BBC has vowed to "get a grip" at the corporation.

Tim Davie said he had set up a "clear line of command" in news.

Mr Davie was appointed to the role of acting director on Saturday after Mr Entwistle announced he was resigning. Mr Entwistle left after eight weeks in the post with a year's salary of £450,000.

Speaking about Mr Entwistle’s pay-off, Mr Davie said it was a matter for the BBC Trust.

In his first televised interview since taking the role, Mr Davie said: "If the public are going to get journalism they trust from the BBC I have to be, as director general, very clear on who is running the news operation and ensuring that journalism we put out passes muster.

"The first decision I have made is to get a grip of that, take action and build trust by putting a clear line of command in.

"Separately, we are going to look at the individual process, and there may be disciplinary action. But I want to be fair to people. I don't subscribe to the view that you should act very quickly in that regard and be unreasonable."

(H/GK)