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Hall calls for end to BBC Trust

BBC director general Tony Hall is to call for an external regulator to replace the BBC Trust and argue that major reforms to the UK pubcaster should require the approval of parliament.

Tony Hall

Tony Hall

The BBC Trust has been under scrutiny following a series of scandals at the pubcaster, including controversy over the handling of former presenter and prolific sex offender Jimmy Saville.

Hall will tell an audience in Cardiff on Monday that substantial changes to the BBC’s governing charter should in future require approval by at least two-thirds of parliament.

He will also argue that the pubcaster should have creative freedom and be allowed to produce in markets as it wishes. Some critics have recently attacked the organisation for producing international formats such as The Voice.

Hall will say the BBC should be “aware of the market, but not led by it. Answerable to parliament, but free from political influence.” Hall will add that producers should be able “to focus on making their programmes, and letting risk of failure be the price of success.”

His comments come after the pubcaster was saddled with the £700m (US$1bn) cost of providing free TV licences to the over 75s.

“Despite the cuts, we can still offer our audiences a better BBC for less. But not if we are bound down with tie after tie. Not if, having cut our money, the charter also cuts our creative freedom to reinvent our services, or our commercial freedom to make up the shortfall,” he said.

In related news, BBC2 has ordered a fourth season of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. The show, filmed in front of a live audience, will cover topics including patriotism, wealth, Islamophobia, the migrant crisis, death and childhood memories.

The 6×30′ series is written by Lee, produced and executive produced by Richard Webb for the BBC and directed by Tim Kirkby.

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