BBC Director General, George Entwistle Resigns

George Entwistle sensationally resigned at 9.00pm last night following...

13:01 11 November 2012

George Entwistle sensationally resigned at 9.00pm last night following the humiliating interview with BBC's John Humphrys, 12 hours earlier.

 

Former Minister, David Mellor said: "He came across as so out of touch."

The newsnight interview, reporting the smearing of Tory Lord McAlpine over false child abuse claims, proved to be the final straw in Mr Entwistle's seven weeks in charge at the BBC.

In a statement delivered on the steps of the BBC, Mr Entwistle said: "In the light of the fact that the director-general is also the editor-in-chief and ultimately responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday November 2, I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down from the post of director-general."
 

George Entwistle said: "The wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader.
 

"To have been the director-general of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honour."