Post by Teddy Bear on Dec 3, 2015 18:03:46 GMT
I'm very glad he's gone, though given the money he will still be taking out of the licence fee he hasn't begun to suffer enough for his real 'worth'.
Which is true for most, if not all of the BBC elite.
Which is true for most, if not all of the BBC elite.
Alan Yentob quits his £183,000 BBC executive job after claims of meddling over Kids Company - but will keep his other £150,000-a-year role and £6.5m pension pot
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor and Martin Robinson for MailOnline
Alan Yentob today quit his £183,000 job as the BBC's creative director after admitting claims he meddled during the Kids Company scandal became a 'serious distraction'.
But the long-serving executive, 68, nicknamed 'two jobs' because he also earns around £150,000-a-year presenting the Imagine arts series, will keep that role and his £6.5million pension pot.
Mr Yentob, who was chairman of Kids Company trustees before it folded, admitted he intervened in the BBC's reporting of the charity's demise on three separate occasions – in one case publicly attacking a reporter in the lobby of New Broadcasting House.
But announcing he had resigned today Tony Hall said an internal investigation ruled Mr Yentob had not 'influenced the BBC’s journalism'.
A BBC spokesman said it was his decision to quit so will not get a pay-off - and he will continue to present shows for the corporation.
Alan Yentob is to quit as one of the BBC's best paid executives after months of pressure over claims of meddling over the Kids Company charity
Tony Hall said the controversial executive had not 'influenced the BBC’s journalism'
Mr Yentob has repeatedly defended his huge pay packet saying the BBC is right to pay its stars high salaries to allow it to compete with its commercial rivals - and insisted he would get more elsewhere.
When asked about his two jobs he claimed lats year they are 'half salaries not double salaries' and said critics focussed on him because he is ‘easy to take the p*** out of’.
Mr Yentob had resisted calls to quit and said in October claims he would quit were 'ridiculous and completely untrue'.
But in a statement today Mr Yentob said: 'The BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction.
'So I have spoken to Tony Hall and told him that I think it best that I step down from my senior management role as Creative Director at the end of this year and focus on programme making and TV production - including of course the Imagine Series. I will also continue supporting Christine Langan and her team as Chairman of BBC Films.
'I love the BBC and will continue to do everything I can to ensure that it thrives and fulfills the great expectations we all have of it.'
Mr Yentob, who was chairman of Kids Company, was accused of interfering with the BBC's coverage of the failed charity on four separate occasions.
He telephoned Newsnight before they ran their initial report on Kids Company's financial mismanagement.
The following morning, he accompanied the charity's founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, to an interview on the Today programme.
Then, more than a month later - and after the initial controversy - Mr Yentob telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton, 45 minutes before he was due to go on World At One with an item about Kids Company.
Mr Yentob has previously admitted the interventions and said he ‘regrets’ any intimidation to BBC journalists, but insisted that he did not compromise the BBC’s editorial independence.
BBC Director General Tony Hall said: 'Alan is a towering figure in television, the arts, and a creative force for good for Britain. He has served the BBC with distinction in a number of different executive roles – all of which have been characterised by his energy, creativity and commitment to public service. He has an extraordinary roll-call of achievement.
'For the record, BBC News considered whether Alan Yentob had influenced the BBC's journalism on the reporting of Kids Company. They concluded that he did not. Despite that, I understand his reasons for stepping down as Creative Director. He has been thinking about this carefully for some time and we have discussed it privately on a number of occasions.
'I am pleased that Alan will be continuing his brilliant work as a programme maker at the BBC in the future.'
His pair of six-figure pay deals at the BBC earned him the nickname ‘Two Jobs’ from his colleagues.
But Alan Yentob has repeatedly defended his generous remuneration, saying: ‘It’s not a double salary, it’s half a salary.’
The 66-year-old earned £183,000 as the corporation’s creative director and a second pay packet, thought to be around £150,000, for presenting the Imagine arts series.
But he said the only reason people criticised his top jobs is because he is ‘easy to take the p*** out of’.
‘I’ve been here for a long time, I’ve run all the channels, people have heard of me. I sound like I have famous friends, I’m easy to take the p*** out of,’ he told The Guardian last year.
‘Let’s look at this double salary thing. If you look at my salary for the executive role it’s half what you would expect it to be. I’ve got a relatively thick skin. I have to put up with it. I know from my colleagues that they like working with me and there’s no hierarchical feel with me.’
On top of his total earnings of around £330,000, Mr Yentob – who has been at the BBC since 1968 – is believed to have a pension pot worth £6.5million.
- BBC executive admits it is time to go because of involvement in charity
- Mr Yentob accused of interfering with BBC's coverage of Kids Company
- He will lose his £183,000 annual salary but keep his other £150,000 pay deal
- Exec will not get a pay-off but will keep his £6.5million BBC pension pot
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor and Martin Robinson for MailOnline
Alan Yentob today quit his £183,000 job as the BBC's creative director after admitting claims he meddled during the Kids Company scandal became a 'serious distraction'.
But the long-serving executive, 68, nicknamed 'two jobs' because he also earns around £150,000-a-year presenting the Imagine arts series, will keep that role and his £6.5million pension pot.
Mr Yentob, who was chairman of Kids Company trustees before it folded, admitted he intervened in the BBC's reporting of the charity's demise on three separate occasions – in one case publicly attacking a reporter in the lobby of New Broadcasting House.
But announcing he had resigned today Tony Hall said an internal investigation ruled Mr Yentob had not 'influenced the BBC’s journalism'.
A BBC spokesman said it was his decision to quit so will not get a pay-off - and he will continue to present shows for the corporation.
Alan Yentob is to quit as one of the BBC's best paid executives after months of pressure over claims of meddling over the Kids Company charity
Tony Hall said the controversial executive had not 'influenced the BBC’s journalism'
Mr Yentob has repeatedly defended his huge pay packet saying the BBC is right to pay its stars high salaries to allow it to compete with its commercial rivals - and insisted he would get more elsewhere.
HOW ALAN YENTOB CONFRONTED BBC COLLEAGUES OVER KIDS COMPANY FUNDING SCANDAL
Alan Yentob was forced to apologise after repeated clashes with BBC colleagues over Kids Company
His first intervention came when he called Newsnight on July 2 as it was preparing to reveal that the Government was withholding £3million of funding from Kids Company, which folded on Wednesday.
The following day he turned up uninvited at Radio 4's Today studio as charity founder Camila Batmanghelidjh was interviewed.
On the Thursday he tore into BBC News special correspondent Lucy Manning ahead of an investigation into allegations of abuse at the charity, but he later apologised.
Then, more than a month later - and after the initial controversy - Mr Yentob telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton, 45 minutes before he was due to go on World At One with an item about Kids Company.
Mr Yentob insisted there is no conflict of interest because he does not have control over BBC News. 'I'm not remotely considering my position at the BBC. I don't think I've in any way abused my position at the BBC,' he said in October.
Mr Yentob admitted the interventions and said he ‘regrets’ any intimidation to BBC journalists, but insisted that he did not compromise the BBC’s editorial independence.
The BBC faced mounting pressure to axe Mr Yentob, amid concerns that he has abused his position at the corporation to promote Kids Company, and that his failures as chairman have now made him ‘toxic by association’.
Among the most embarrassing episodes, was the ‘hysterical’ letter signed by Mr Yentob and sent to ministers as the charity was negotiating for more Government funding.
It warned that without Kids Company there could be ‘arson attacks’ on Government buildings, rioting in the streets and ‘savagery’ in parts of Britain.
However, Mr Yentob compounded the embarrassment when he told MPs on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee that a boy had been murdered because of the charity’s collapse.
Alan Yentob was forced to apologise after repeated clashes with BBC colleagues over Kids Company
His first intervention came when he called Newsnight on July 2 as it was preparing to reveal that the Government was withholding £3million of funding from Kids Company, which folded on Wednesday.
The following day he turned up uninvited at Radio 4's Today studio as charity founder Camila Batmanghelidjh was interviewed.
On the Thursday he tore into BBC News special correspondent Lucy Manning ahead of an investigation into allegations of abuse at the charity, but he later apologised.
Then, more than a month later - and after the initial controversy - Mr Yentob telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton, 45 minutes before he was due to go on World At One with an item about Kids Company.
Mr Yentob insisted there is no conflict of interest because he does not have control over BBC News. 'I'm not remotely considering my position at the BBC. I don't think I've in any way abused my position at the BBC,' he said in October.
Mr Yentob admitted the interventions and said he ‘regrets’ any intimidation to BBC journalists, but insisted that he did not compromise the BBC’s editorial independence.
The BBC faced mounting pressure to axe Mr Yentob, amid concerns that he has abused his position at the corporation to promote Kids Company, and that his failures as chairman have now made him ‘toxic by association’.
Among the most embarrassing episodes, was the ‘hysterical’ letter signed by Mr Yentob and sent to ministers as the charity was negotiating for more Government funding.
It warned that without Kids Company there could be ‘arson attacks’ on Government buildings, rioting in the streets and ‘savagery’ in parts of Britain.
However, Mr Yentob compounded the embarrassment when he told MPs on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee that a boy had been murdered because of the charity’s collapse.
Mr Yentob had resisted calls to quit and said in October claims he would quit were 'ridiculous and completely untrue'.
But in a statement today Mr Yentob said: 'The BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction.
'So I have spoken to Tony Hall and told him that I think it best that I step down from my senior management role as Creative Director at the end of this year and focus on programme making and TV production - including of course the Imagine Series. I will also continue supporting Christine Langan and her team as Chairman of BBC Films.
'I love the BBC and will continue to do everything I can to ensure that it thrives and fulfills the great expectations we all have of it.'
Mr Yentob, who was chairman of Kids Company, was accused of interfering with the BBC's coverage of the failed charity on four separate occasions.
He telephoned Newsnight before they ran their initial report on Kids Company's financial mismanagement.
The following morning, he accompanied the charity's founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, to an interview on the Today programme.
Then, more than a month later - and after the initial controversy - Mr Yentob telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton, 45 minutes before he was due to go on World At One with an item about Kids Company.
Mr Yentob has previously admitted the interventions and said he ‘regrets’ any intimidation to BBC journalists, but insisted that he did not compromise the BBC’s editorial independence.
BBC Director General Tony Hall said: 'Alan is a towering figure in television, the arts, and a creative force for good for Britain. He has served the BBC with distinction in a number of different executive roles – all of which have been characterised by his energy, creativity and commitment to public service. He has an extraordinary roll-call of achievement.
'For the record, BBC News considered whether Alan Yentob had influenced the BBC's journalism on the reporting of Kids Company. They concluded that he did not. Despite that, I understand his reasons for stepping down as Creative Director. He has been thinking about this carefully for some time and we have discussed it privately on a number of occasions.
'I am pleased that Alan will be continuing his brilliant work as a programme maker at the BBC in the future.'
His pair of six-figure pay deals at the BBC earned him the nickname ‘Two Jobs’ from his colleagues.
But Alan Yentob has repeatedly defended his generous remuneration, saying: ‘It’s not a double salary, it’s half a salary.’
The 66-year-old earned £183,000 as the corporation’s creative director and a second pay packet, thought to be around £150,000, for presenting the Imagine arts series.
But he said the only reason people criticised his top jobs is because he is ‘easy to take the p*** out of’.
‘I’ve been here for a long time, I’ve run all the channels, people have heard of me. I sound like I have famous friends, I’m easy to take the p*** out of,’ he told The Guardian last year.
‘Let’s look at this double salary thing. If you look at my salary for the executive role it’s half what you would expect it to be. I’ve got a relatively thick skin. I have to put up with it. I know from my colleagues that they like working with me and there’s no hierarchical feel with me.’
On top of his total earnings of around £330,000, Mr Yentob – who has been at the BBC since 1968 – is believed to have a pension pot worth £6.5million.
HOW 'MESMERISED' PM HANDED CASH TO KIDS COMPANY WHO RECEIVED £46MILLION IN TAXPAYER-FUNDED GRANTS OVER THE 13 YEARS
Ministers handed £46million of public money to Kids Company in spite of at least six warnings about the dire state of its finances, a damning report found in October.
And charity boss Camila Batmanghelidjh sent a 'Dear David' letter begging the 'mesmirised' Prime Minister to give the bankrupt charity more cash, an ex-minister claimed.
Former minister for children Tim Loughton said he was worried about a very 'sizeable' grant to the charity in 2012 but was 'over-ruled' after Miss Batmanghelidjh went to the 'mesmerised' Prime Minister.
Five government departments doled out millions in grants to keep the now-defunct charity afloat over a period of 13 years, the National Audit Office said.
Miss Batmanghelidjh rubbished the report and called it 'distorted' and maintains her charity offered 'exceptional' value.
She said Kids Company was given taxpayers' money to 'do the job the Government couldn't do', adding: 'It wasn't doing the charity a favour'.
Tim Loughton said Kids Company, which shut down this year, was given it 'special treatment' without providing evidence of its effectiveness.
He said: 'Camila Batmanghelidjh assured us it was doing a fantastic job, but we never saw the proof. When you are handling such large quantities of public money you really do need to show that it's effective, value for money and sustainable. It wasn't and that's why I cautioned against giving further funds on this scale.'
He added: 'What particularly annoyed me when it was taken out of our hands and the money was paid over ... if there were many other youth charities doing some really important work who effectively were squeezed out because there wasn't enough money to go round'.
Downing Street has said ministers from 'successive governments' had believed it was the 'right thing to do to support this charity'.
But it refused to comment on claims that the Prime Minister had received a 'Dear David letter' from Ms Batmanghelidjh after Mr Loughton raised concerns about awarding the charity more funding.
Asked if Mr Cameron had expressed a view about the grants being awarded in 2012, a No 10 spokesman said: 'I'm not aware of him doing so.'
Pressed to flatly deny that Downing Street had been involved in decisions about funding for the charity, he said: 'I don't recognise it.'
The spokesman also said he did not recognise descriptions of Mr Cameron being 'mesmerised' by Ms Batmanghelidjh.
Ministers handed £46million of public money to Kids Company in spite of at least six warnings about the dire state of its finances, a damning report found in October.
And charity boss Camila Batmanghelidjh sent a 'Dear David' letter begging the 'mesmirised' Prime Minister to give the bankrupt charity more cash, an ex-minister claimed.
Former minister for children Tim Loughton said he was worried about a very 'sizeable' grant to the charity in 2012 but was 'over-ruled' after Miss Batmanghelidjh went to the 'mesmerised' Prime Minister.
Five government departments doled out millions in grants to keep the now-defunct charity afloat over a period of 13 years, the National Audit Office said.
Miss Batmanghelidjh rubbished the report and called it 'distorted' and maintains her charity offered 'exceptional' value.
She said Kids Company was given taxpayers' money to 'do the job the Government couldn't do', adding: 'It wasn't doing the charity a favour'.
Tim Loughton said Kids Company, which shut down this year, was given it 'special treatment' without providing evidence of its effectiveness.
He said: 'Camila Batmanghelidjh assured us it was doing a fantastic job, but we never saw the proof. When you are handling such large quantities of public money you really do need to show that it's effective, value for money and sustainable. It wasn't and that's why I cautioned against giving further funds on this scale.'
He added: 'What particularly annoyed me when it was taken out of our hands and the money was paid over ... if there were many other youth charities doing some really important work who effectively were squeezed out because there wasn't enough money to go round'.
Downing Street has said ministers from 'successive governments' had believed it was the 'right thing to do to support this charity'.
But it refused to comment on claims that the Prime Minister had received a 'Dear David letter' from Ms Batmanghelidjh after Mr Loughton raised concerns about awarding the charity more funding.
Asked if Mr Cameron had expressed a view about the grants being awarded in 2012, a No 10 spokesman said: 'I'm not aware of him doing so.'
Pressed to flatly deny that Downing Street had been involved in decisions about funding for the charity, he said: 'I don't recognise it.'
The spokesman also said he did not recognise descriptions of Mr Cameron being 'mesmerised' by Ms Batmanghelidjh.