“Tough choices and hard decisions” are to come at the BBC. That is the verdict of new Chair Samir Shah, who kicked off his tenure today by setting his stall out in an all-staff email that urged greater diversity of “class and thought” in the corporation’s news coverage.
The email, seen by Deadline, lays bare the tricky financial predicament the BBC finds itself in – having found itself shy of around £100M ($126M) due to the latest license fee settlement and facing rampant inflation – by saying “we will still need to live within our means in a tough financial situation.”
“That involves thinking very hard about what we should stop doing or do very differently,” it adds. “My role – and that of the Board – is to work with the organisation as we confront hard choices and tough decisions.”
Shah, who is replacing the disgraced Richard Sharp and has worked for...
The email, seen by Deadline, lays bare the tricky financial predicament the BBC finds itself in – having found itself shy of around £100M ($126M) due to the latest license fee settlement and facing rampant inflation – by saying “we will still need to live within our means in a tough financial situation.”
“That involves thinking very hard about what we should stop doing or do very differently,” it adds. “My role – and that of the Board – is to work with the organisation as we confront hard choices and tough decisions.”
Shah, who is replacing the disgraced Richard Sharp and has worked for...
- 3/4/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The BBC is one step closer to getting its new chair following the resignation of Richard Sharp earlier this year.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which interviewed Samir Shah earlier this week, has officially approved his appointment but expressed “disappointment” over the longtime TV executive’s unwillingness “to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality.”
The committee has requested that if Shah is officially appointed for the role, he re-appear again for questioning within three months to “demonstrate that he has considered and addressed the concerns.”
Because the BBC is a publicly funded public service broadcaster, effectively held in trust for the public by the U.K. government, the culture secretary and Prime Minister are involved in appointing the broadcaster’s chair. After they confirm their preferred candidate, in this case Juniper TV CEO Shah, the...
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which interviewed Samir Shah earlier this week, has officially approved his appointment but expressed “disappointment” over the longtime TV executive’s unwillingness “to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality.”
The committee has requested that if Shah is officially appointed for the role, he re-appear again for questioning within three months to “demonstrate that he has considered and addressed the concerns.”
Because the BBC is a publicly funded public service broadcaster, effectively held in trust for the public by the U.K. government, the culture secretary and Prime Minister are involved in appointing the broadcaster’s chair. After they confirm their preferred candidate, in this case Juniper TV CEO Shah, the...
- 12/15/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Nadine Dorries was telling the truth when she accused BBC board member Robbie Gibb of meddling in a key appointment at the UK broadcaster’s regulator, Ofcom.
That’s the verdict of a source who worked closely with Dorries during her time as culture secretary in the year to September 2022. This person told Deadline that Gibb “campaigned” for his preferred candidate to become Ofcom chair.
It is the latest twist in a media row that has slowly gathered momentum in the UK after Dorries made allegations about Gibb’s interference in the Ofcom recruitment process in her book The Plot.
Dorries was responsible for hiring the next chair of Ofcom and narrowed the field to Lord Grade, a former BBC and ITV executive, and Lord Gilbert, a Conservative peer who served as an election strategist to former prime minister Theresa May.
Dorries’ preferred candidate was Grade, but she alleged...
That’s the verdict of a source who worked closely with Dorries during her time as culture secretary in the year to September 2022. This person told Deadline that Gibb “campaigned” for his preferred candidate to become Ofcom chair.
It is the latest twist in a media row that has slowly gathered momentum in the UK after Dorries made allegations about Gibb’s interference in the Ofcom recruitment process in her book The Plot.
Dorries was responsible for hiring the next chair of Ofcom and narrowed the field to Lord Grade, a former BBC and ITV executive, and Lord Gilbert, a Conservative peer who served as an election strategist to former prime minister Theresa May.
Dorries’ preferred candidate was Grade, but she alleged...
- 12/14/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
New BBC Chair Samir Shah laid down a marker across multiple topics this morning, announcing his intentions to review the corporation’s reporting guidelines on the Israel-Hamas war, addressing concerns around financing and saying he was told he is “mad” to be taking on the role.
While questioning whether Gary Lineker had broken social media guidelines with his latest Twitter (now X) scandal, he also acknowledged “criticism” over the way the broadcaster has covered the Israel-Hamas war, a highly charged topic since October 7.
Were he to be appointed chair, the former head of the BBC’s political news programs said he would “review” the matter, especially whether the BBC should be referring to Hamas as “terrorists,” a source of controversy that the BBC has faced up to over past weeks.
“It seems to me there is enough in terms of criticism of the way the BBC has covered this war,...
While questioning whether Gary Lineker had broken social media guidelines with his latest Twitter (now X) scandal, he also acknowledged “criticism” over the way the broadcaster has covered the Israel-Hamas war, a highly charged topic since October 7.
Were he to be appointed chair, the former head of the BBC’s political news programs said he would “review” the matter, especially whether the BBC should be referring to Hamas as “terrorists,” a source of controversy that the BBC has faced up to over past weeks.
“It seems to me there is enough in terms of criticism of the way the BBC has covered this war,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
British TV vet Samir Shah has been unveiled as the new BBC Chair, coming with a major decision on the licence fee imminent.
Shah, who runs production company Juniper TV and used to be a senior BBC News exec, has been appointed by the government several months after the resignation of Richard Sharp, who left the corporation after just two years amidst the conflict-of-interest scandal involving the facilitation of a potential loan for Boris Johnson.
Shah has been working on and off in TV for four decades and is well known in industry circles. He used to run the BBC’s political journalism shows and was a non-exec director during the ‘Crowngate’ affair involving Queen Elizabeth II, at which point he advised Director General Mark Thompson over a scandal that led to the resignation of BBC One Controller Peter Fincham. He bought Juniper in 1998 and has made shows for the likes of the BBC,...
Shah, who runs production company Juniper TV and used to be a senior BBC News exec, has been appointed by the government several months after the resignation of Richard Sharp, who left the corporation after just two years amidst the conflict-of-interest scandal involving the facilitation of a potential loan for Boris Johnson.
Shah has been working on and off in TV for four decades and is well known in industry circles. He used to run the BBC’s political journalism shows and was a non-exec director during the ‘Crowngate’ affair involving Queen Elizabeth II, at which point he advised Director General Mark Thompson over a scandal that led to the resignation of BBC One Controller Peter Fincham. He bought Juniper in 1998 and has made shows for the likes of the BBC,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The UK government has been accused of interfering with the BBC’s independence after piling pressure on the broadcaster to grip the Huw Edwards scandal in July.
Within hours of The Sun newspaper publishing allegations that Edwards paid a teenager for sexual images, a high-ranking official all but ordered the BBC to investigate, according to emails obtained by Deadline under a Freedom of Information Act request.
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent of the government and people familiar with the corporation’s governance said it is the job of the board, not ministers, to police issues such as the Edwards firestorm.
This did not stop Robert Specterman-Green, the director of media for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Dcms), from messaging BBC chief of staff Phil Harrold on Saturday, July 8, to set out the government’s expectations.
“While recognising this is a matter for the BBC to manage,...
Within hours of The Sun newspaper publishing allegations that Edwards paid a teenager for sexual images, a high-ranking official all but ordered the BBC to investigate, according to emails obtained by Deadline under a Freedom of Information Act request.
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent of the government and people familiar with the corporation’s governance said it is the job of the board, not ministers, to police issues such as the Edwards firestorm.
This did not stop Robert Specterman-Green, the director of media for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Dcms), from messaging BBC chief of staff Phil Harrold on Saturday, July 8, to set out the government’s expectations.
“While recognising this is a matter for the BBC to manage,...
- 11/21/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK government has said it was “important” to raise questions with the BBC about the Huw Edwards scandal amid concerns it could have called the broadcaster’s independence into question.
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer took the unusual step in July of holding talks with BBC director general Tim Davie over the “deeply concerning” allegations that news anchor Edwards paid a young person for sexually explicit images.
Frazer was questioned about her intervention during a hearing held by the House of Lords’ influential Communications and Digital Committee on Wednesday. Committee chair Baroness Stowell said it was not “standard” for the government to be in contact with the director general over a BBC operational matter.
Stowell suggested that it would have been more appropriate for Frazer to have engaged with the chair of the BBC board, which is responsible for holding the corporation to account. Dame Elan Closs Stephens is the...
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer took the unusual step in July of holding talks with BBC director general Tim Davie over the “deeply concerning” allegations that news anchor Edwards paid a young person for sexually explicit images.
Frazer was questioned about her intervention during a hearing held by the House of Lords’ influential Communications and Digital Committee on Wednesday. Committee chair Baroness Stowell said it was not “standard” for the government to be in contact with the director general over a BBC operational matter.
Stowell suggested that it would have been more appropriate for Frazer to have engaged with the chair of the BBC board, which is responsible for holding the corporation to account. Dame Elan Closs Stephens is the...
- 9/13/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK’s influential Culture, Media & Sport Committee has written to both the BBC and The Sun over investigations into Huw Edwards and Dan Wootton.
Caroline Dinenage wrote to BBC Acting Chair Elan Closs Stephens yesterday saying the committee is “keen to see that the BBC conducts its two wider reviews in a transparent manner” following the Edwards scandal.
The BBC has launched two reviews since the accusations against Edwards, one of which will be a ‘factfinding’ investigation and the other a more detailed work on protocols. Director General Tim Davie has already said the latter could take several months to report back and a Deloitte partner has been drafted in to help.
“We share your concern to respect the privacy of individuals and to give due regard to the BBC’s duty of care obligations,” said Dinenage’s letter. “As such it is entirely appropriate that the BBC’s...
Caroline Dinenage wrote to BBC Acting Chair Elan Closs Stephens yesterday saying the committee is “keen to see that the BBC conducts its two wider reviews in a transparent manner” following the Edwards scandal.
The BBC has launched two reviews since the accusations against Edwards, one of which will be a ‘factfinding’ investigation and the other a more detailed work on protocols. Director General Tim Davie has already said the latter could take several months to report back and a Deloitte partner has been drafted in to help.
“We share your concern to respect the privacy of individuals and to give due regard to the BBC’s duty of care obligations,” said Dinenage’s letter. “As such it is entirely appropriate that the BBC’s...
- 7/25/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Chiefs Grilled in U.K. Parliament Ahead of Funding Model Review, in the Aftermath of Huw Edwards
BBC director general Tim Davie and acting chair Elan Closs Stephens answered searching questions from the U.K. Lords Communications and Digital Committee on Tuesday on the corporation’s funding model.
The BBC’s main source of revenue is annual license fee of £159 ($202). The BBC annual report, which was published last week revealed that the number of people who bought a license fee fell by 500,000 to 24.3 million. Consequently, BBC revenues dipped from £3.8 billion to £3.74 billion. The license fee, which is currently frozen for two years, is set to rise significantly in April 2024.
It emerged on Tuesday morning that a review into the BBC funding model could be ordered this fall. “The evidence that there is a growing unwillingness to pay is shown by figures each year. The licence fee model is becoming unsustainable,” the London Times said, quoting a government source.
Variety understands that the timing of the review is...
The BBC’s main source of revenue is annual license fee of £159 ($202). The BBC annual report, which was published last week revealed that the number of people who bought a license fee fell by 500,000 to 24.3 million. Consequently, BBC revenues dipped from £3.8 billion to £3.74 billion. The license fee, which is currently frozen for two years, is set to rise significantly in April 2024.
It emerged on Tuesday morning that a review into the BBC funding model could be ordered this fall. “The evidence that there is a growing unwillingness to pay is shown by figures each year. The licence fee model is becoming unsustainable,” the London Times said, quoting a government source.
Variety understands that the timing of the review is...
- 7/18/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has drafted in a senior partner from Deloitte to help with its high-profile review into protocols following the Huw Edwards scandal, which Tim Davie revealed should complete in the late Autumn.
Simon Cuerden, who leads the accounting giant’s Fraud, Data and Disputes team, will support BBC Group Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva and the Board’s Senior Independent Director Nick Serota on the review, which the Director General said will publish its terms of reference later this week but won’t be completed for several months.
Speaking to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee in the past few minutes, Davie said the review will “go through the process in terms of understanding what we do and whether we need to adjust protocols and procedures.”
“I have asked to see what is flagged [throughout] to ensure the consistency during the period we do the review,” he said.
Simon Cuerden, who leads the accounting giant’s Fraud, Data and Disputes team, will support BBC Group Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva and the Board’s Senior Independent Director Nick Serota on the review, which the Director General said will publish its terms of reference later this week but won’t be completed for several months.
Speaking to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee in the past few minutes, Davie said the review will “go through the process in terms of understanding what we do and whether we need to adjust protocols and procedures.”
“I have asked to see what is flagged [throughout] to ensure the consistency during the period we do the review,” he said.
- 7/18/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Elan Closs Stephens, who has assumed charge as acting BBC chair following the resignation of Richard Sharp, has spoken out about her predecessor and the process of appointing her successor.
Sharp resigned in April over his role in a 2020 loan to then U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
On Wednesday, Closs Stephens’ first day as acting BBC chair, a Q&a with BBC presenter Tina Daheley was shared with the corporation’s staff.
When asked what she would say to people who feel the BBC’s reputation has been damaged by what happened with Richard Sharp, Closs Stephens said: “There’s no doubt that we’ve gone through a difficult period of time and I’m sure that staff and the board and Richard himself were unnerved by what happened over the past few months. All of us feel a debt of gratitude to Richard for the way in which...
Sharp resigned in April over his role in a 2020 loan to then U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
On Wednesday, Closs Stephens’ first day as acting BBC chair, a Q&a with BBC presenter Tina Daheley was shared with the corporation’s staff.
When asked what she would say to people who feel the BBC’s reputation has been damaged by what happened with Richard Sharp, Closs Stephens said: “There’s no doubt that we’ve gone through a difficult period of time and I’m sure that staff and the board and Richard himself were unnerved by what happened over the past few months. All of us feel a debt of gratitude to Richard for the way in which...
- 6/28/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC’s Acting Chair Elan Closs Stephens has said staff and the board at the UK network were “unnerved” by events of the past few months.
Cross’ predecessor, Richard Sharp, stood down after a report found he had breached appointment rules by failing to properly declare his role in securing former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson access to an £800,000 ($1M) loan.
A BBC probe cleared Sharp of any conflict of interest issues but noted he should have made “relevant declarations at the outset of his tenure” that he had attempted to introduce a Canadian businessman, Sam Blyth, to the UK’s Cabinet Secretary. Blyth went on help Johnson secure the loan.
“There’s no doubt that we’ve gone through a difficult period of time and I’m sure that staff and the Board and Richard himself were unnerved by what happened over the past few months,” said Closs...
Cross’ predecessor, Richard Sharp, stood down after a report found he had breached appointment rules by failing to properly declare his role in securing former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson access to an £800,000 ($1M) loan.
A BBC probe cleared Sharp of any conflict of interest issues but noted he should have made “relevant declarations at the outset of his tenure” that he had attempted to introduce a Canadian businessman, Sam Blyth, to the UK’s Cabinet Secretary. Blyth went on help Johnson secure the loan.
“There’s no doubt that we’ve gone through a difficult period of time and I’m sure that staff and the Board and Richard himself were unnerved by what happened over the past few months,” said Closs...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC director general Tim Davie has called for a “transparent” hiring process for the next chair of the corporation.
The previous BBC chair Richard Sharp resigned over his role in a 2020 loan to then U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed temporary acting chair.
Davie appeared before a U.K. Culture Media and Sport Committee parliamentary inquiry on the workings of the BBC on Tuesday and was asked what qualities and skills BBC needs for the new chair. “This is an incredibly precious institution, globally admired complex, right in the heart of the public eye. It needs a world class chair and we need an outstanding candidate to do that,” Davie told the committee.
“From a board point of view, we absolutely believe that a transparent process is critical. It obviously has to be someone who can champion the impartiality and the independence of the BBC,...
The previous BBC chair Richard Sharp resigned over his role in a 2020 loan to then U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed temporary acting chair.
Davie appeared before a U.K. Culture Media and Sport Committee parliamentary inquiry on the workings of the BBC on Tuesday and was asked what qualities and skills BBC needs for the new chair. “This is an incredibly precious institution, globally admired complex, right in the heart of the public eye. It needs a world class chair and we need an outstanding candidate to do that,” Davie told the committee.
“From a board point of view, we absolutely believe that a transparent process is critical. It obviously has to be someone who can champion the impartiality and the independence of the BBC,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Welsh non-executive board member to replace Richard Sharp later this month
The UK government has appointed Elan Closs Stephens as acting chair of the BBC from 27 June.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer made the appointment following a consultation with the BBC board. Elan will remain in post while the government undertakes the process to appoint a permanent chair, which is expected to take several months.
Elan has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010 and a non-executive director on the board since July 2017, during which time she has been the chair of the Wales Committee and chair of...
The UK government has appointed Elan Closs Stephens as acting chair of the BBC from 27 June.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer made the appointment following a consultation with the BBC board. Elan will remain in post while the government undertakes the process to appoint a permanent chair, which is expected to take several months.
Elan has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010 and a non-executive director on the board since July 2017, during which time she has been the chair of the Wales Committee and chair of...
- 6/2/2023
- by Ellie Kahn Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Elan Closs Stephens has been named the acting chair of the BBC, replacing Richard Sharp who recently unveiled his resignation, effective June 27, following a report that said he had breached appointment rules by not fully disclosing his role in a loan given to former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
U.K. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer unveiled the appointment of the interim chair Friday following a consultation with the BBC board.
Under the BBC’s charter, an acting chair must be an existing non-executive director on the BBC board. “Dame Elan has been a non-executive director on the BBC board since July 2017, and prior to that was the trustee for Wales on the BBC Trust (2010-2017),” the BBC said Friday. “Between 2019 and 2022, she was chair of the Commercial Holdings Board for BBC Studios.”
Stephens called her appointment “a huge honor,” saying: “As a board, we will champion the license fee payer across all of the U.
U.K. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer unveiled the appointment of the interim chair Friday following a consultation with the BBC board.
Under the BBC’s charter, an acting chair must be an existing non-executive director on the BBC board. “Dame Elan has been a non-executive director on the BBC board since July 2017, and prior to that was the trustee for Wales on the BBC Trust (2010-2017),” the BBC said Friday. “Between 2019 and 2022, she was chair of the Commercial Holdings Board for BBC Studios.”
Stephens called her appointment “a huge honor,” saying: “As a board, we will champion the license fee payer across all of the U.
- 6/2/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BBC has appointed an acting chair following the ousting of Richard Sharp in April.
Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed in the role by the U.K.’s culture secretary Lucy Frazer She will take over from Sharp once he steps down on June 27.
Closs Stephens has been a non-executive director of the board since 2017. Before that she was the BBC Trust’s trustee for Wales and has also been chair of the commercial holdings board for BBC Studios, chair of Welsh broadcaster SC4 and is currently Aberystwyth University’s Pro-Chancellor and Professor Emerita in Communications and Creative Industries.
She will remain acting chair of the BBC until a new, permanent chair is found following a government search and application process.
“It’s a huge honor to be appointed by the secretary of state as acting chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me,...
Elan Closs Stephens has been appointed in the role by the U.K.’s culture secretary Lucy Frazer She will take over from Sharp once he steps down on June 27.
Closs Stephens has been a non-executive director of the board since 2017. Before that she was the BBC Trust’s trustee for Wales and has also been chair of the commercial holdings board for BBC Studios, chair of Welsh broadcaster SC4 and is currently Aberystwyth University’s Pro-Chancellor and Professor Emerita in Communications and Creative Industries.
She will remain acting chair of the BBC until a new, permanent chair is found following a government search and application process.
“It’s a huge honor to be appointed by the secretary of state as acting chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me,...
- 6/2/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has appointed an acting replacement for departing Chairman Richard Sharp, with Dame Elan Closs Stephens set to take over for up to 12 months.
Stephens, who currently sits as the Welsh member on the BBC Board, will act as Chair for a year or when a permanent appointee is selected by the government, whichever comes sooner.
She has spent her career working in broadcasting, the creative industries and academia and chaired the BBC’s commercial subsidiary from 2019 to 2022. She also has past experience as chair of BBC-backed Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.
Stephens replaces Sharp following the controversy over his involvement with a loan guarantee for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The scandal generated headlines for months and an excoriating report from the Public Appointments Committee in April, which found he breached appointment rules, led to his resignation. Sharp has stayed on since temporarily but always said he would leave in June.
Stephens, who currently sits as the Welsh member on the BBC Board, will act as Chair for a year or when a permanent appointee is selected by the government, whichever comes sooner.
She has spent her career working in broadcasting, the creative industries and academia and chaired the BBC’s commercial subsidiary from 2019 to 2022. She also has past experience as chair of BBC-backed Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.
Stephens replaces Sharp following the controversy over his involvement with a loan guarantee for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The scandal generated headlines for months and an excoriating report from the Public Appointments Committee in April, which found he breached appointment rules, led to his resignation. Sharp has stayed on since temporarily but always said he would leave in June.
- 6/2/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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