BBC could see more scandals, director-general Tim Davie admits as he faces grilling from MPs
The BBC director-general said "we may see more things coming out," as he faced a grilling from a committee of MPs today over the Gaza documentary, its Glastonbury coverage, and its investigation into Gregg Wallace.
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Tim Davie today told the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee that "lessons had been learned" after the controversial documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone aired in February.
He also said the licence fee is 'here to stay' and, alongside BBC chairman Samir Shah, defended accusations that the political programming had been too focused on the Reform Party.
Asked if more scandals might emerge, Mr Davie told members: "I don't think you can change culture in six months and suddenly say nothing's going to occur.
"We may see more things coming out, because in some ways I'm asking for it, and being utterly transparent and running towards the problem, that's what we need to do."
The results of the committee hearing will be used towards the BBC's charter review, expected later this year.
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Mr Davie said the BBC has “executed the recommendations” after a report found the corporation failed to disclose information about the child narrator’s father’s position within the Hamas-run government in the BBC’s Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary.
An internal review concluded in July that the documentary breached editorial guidelines on accuracy.
The film, which was made for the BBC by the independent production company HOYO Films, was removed from BBC iPlayer in February after it emerged the child narrator, Abdullah, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture.
Mr Davie said: “There are people who are facing consequences.”
He added: “It was a bad mistake, I think the report also says HOYO Films not disclosing that information was important to us... Lessons have been learned."
The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream the performance of punk rap duo Bob Vylan, as they led chants of "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)".
Irish rap trio Kneecap appeared on the same stage directly after Bob Vylan and led the Glastonbury audience in "Free Palestine" chants, but they were not streamed live.
The director-general said it was "absolutely an antisemitic broadcast," and that he responded "quickly," when he heard about the content.
"[I said] Get it off on demand, we're not broadcasting this guy," he told the committee.
Mr Davie said that it was a "tough call" for bosses to decide to go ahead with broadcasting the latest series of Masterchef.
Presenter John Torode was axed for allegedly using a racist term, while co-host Gregg Wallace was sacked after claims of inappropriate behaviour.
The director-general said the latest series of the cookery show has gone ahead after the move was backed by the vast majority of the contestants.
"It was a tough call," he said.
"I think the consequences for the individuals who presented have been very significant. They no longer work with the BBC."
Mr Shah added: "No one is irreplaceable. Absolutely no one, seriously, no one."
Asked about the BBC’s coverage of Reform and how its level can be justified for a party with only four MPs, Mr Shah said it reflects the “changing nature of Reform support”, adding: “I don’t think it’s wall to wall.”
He said: “We do it in terms of their representation in the country, in parliament and news judgment.”
Asked if he agreed that Laura Kuenssberg has given “soft” interviews to the leader of Reform, Mr Davie said: “I don’t recognise that, I get feedback from every side on that, but I don’t want to sound complacent, we are debating this every day at the BBC.”
Mr Davie said that the BBC licence fee is here to stay and that 80 per cent of Brits use the service a week, although he admitted it does need reform.
He added that advertising is not being considered.
MPs now wrapping up
The committee has thanked Mr Davie and Mr Shah for their time and they will now move forward towards the BBC's charter review.
Live coverage ends here.Airing Masterchef was a "tough call"
Mr Davie said that it was a "tough call" for bosses to decide to go ahead with broadcasting the latest series of Masterchef.
Presenter John Torode was axed for allegedly using a racist term, while co-host Gregg Wallace was sacked after claims of inappropriate behaviour.
The director-general said the latest series of the cookery show has gone ahead after the move was backed by the vast majority of the contestants.
"It was a tough call," he said.
"I think the consequences for the individuals who presented have been very significant. They no longer work with the BBC."
Mr Shah added: "No one is irreplaceable. Absolutely no one, seriously, no one."
John Torode and Gregg Wallace have both been sacked'I said we are not broadcasting this guy'
Mr Davie admitted the BBC had made a mistake over broadcasting Bob Vylan live from Glastonbury.
The director-general said it was "absolutely an antisemitic broadcast," and that he responded "quickly," when he heard about the content.
"[I said] Get it off on demand, we're not broadcasting this guy," he told the committee.
Bob Vylan perform at GlastonburyLicence fee 'is in no way collapsing'
Mr Davie said that the BBC licence fee is here to stay and that 80 per cent of Brits use the service a week.
"If we stay where we are, it is not good enough," he said of the fee. "I think we need to be innovative. It is in no way collapsing."
He has ruled out advertising but said that reform is needed.
Mr Shah echoed these comments and said effort was to be put into the quality of content.
Further questions about stance on Reform
Asked about the BBC’s coverage of Reform and how its level can be justified for a party with only four MPs, Mr Shah said it reflects the “changing nature of Reform support”, adding: “I don’t think it’s wall to wall.”
He said: “We do it in terms of their representation in the country, in parliament and news judgment.”
Asked if he agreed Laura Kuenssberg has given “soft” interviews to the leader of Reform, Mr Davie said: “I don’t recognise that, I get feedback from every side on that, but I don’t want to sound complacent, we are debating this every day at the BBC.”
He said of BBC journalists: “They don’t lack appetite to put politicians under scrutiny and they have no desire to give anyone a so-called easy ride if proper questions are required.”
'We do need to give more voice to marginalised parties'
Mr Davie is now defending further accusations about partisanship within its coverage.
It was pointed out that Robbie Gibb, one of the BBC's top dogs, is the brother of former Tory minister Sir Nick Gibb.
Political contributor Rafael Behr, meanwhile, has been called out for being too anti-Brexit.
Mr Davie said the BBC strives to be impartial.
"We do need to give more voice to marginalised parties," Mr Davie added, acknowledging a new Green Party leader has been selected.
BBC questioned over amount of Reform coverage
Mr Davie was asked about the amount of coverage that Reform has been given.
Committee members raised concerns that the right-wing party had been given undue coverage for the amount of success it has had.
"Our only objective is to deliver fair and impartial coverage," the the director-general said in response.
"We have a challenge in terms of a new landscape. It's appropriate we look at the latest polling and Reform has councils, mayoral contests... We are trying to get the balance right."
He added: "There's more issue-based discussion and parties in there."
BBC 'executed the recommendations' after Gaza doc
Mr Davie said the BBC has “executed the recommendations” after a report found the corporation failed to disclose information about the child narrator’s father’s position within the Hamas-run government in the BBC’s Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary.
The film, which was made for the BBC by the independent production company HOYO Films, was removed from BBC iPlayer in February after it emerged the child narrator, Abdullah, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas’s deputy minister of agriculture.
Mr Davie said: “There are people who are facing consequences.”
He added: “It was a bad mistake, I think the report also says HOYO Films not disclosing that information was important to us.”
BBC chairman Samir Shad said: “It was a real mistake, what [the report] found was that we were not open and transparent about the relationship of the narrator to a Hamas official, really does go straight to heart of the BBC’s reputational risk in terms of being impartial and trustworthy.
“It was a sin of omission, which is just as serious as a sin of commission.”
Who is on the committee?
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is formed from these cross-party members:
- Dame Caroline Dinenage MP - Conservative
- Mr Bayo Alaba MP - Labour
- Zöe Franklin MP - Liberal Democrat
- Mr James Frith MP - Labour
- Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP - Conservative
- Dr Rupa Huq MP - Labour
- Natasha Irons MP - Labour
- Liz Jarvis MP - Liberal Democrat
- Jo Platt MP - Labour
- Tom Rutland MP - Labour
- Paul Waugh MP - Labour