Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Fallout from Newsnight fiasco: John Humphrys vs George Entwistle

 

Sunday 11 November 2012 01:03 GMT
Comments

John Humphrys: When did you know that this film was being broadcast?

George Entwistle: The film was not drawn to my attention before transmission.

H: But you must have known because a tweet was put out 12 hours before telling the whole world that something was going to happen on Newsnight that would reveal extraordinary things about child abuse and involve a senior Tory figure.

E: I didn’t see the tweet.

H: You have a staff? They didn’t see the tweet that was going to set the world on fire?

E: John, this wasn’t brought to my attention.

H: So when did you find out?

E: The following day.

H: The following day? You didn’t see it the night it was broadcast?

E: No. I was out.

H: And you didn’t ask any questions during the week?

E: No, John. I didn’t

H: So you’ve no natural curiosity? You wait for someone to come along and say: “Excuse me, Director General, but this is happening, you might be interested.” You don’t do what everyone else in the country does – read newspapers, listen to everything that’s going on … Did you see The Guardian’s front page yesterday morning?

E: I was giving a speech.

H: The Guardian yesterday carried a story which cast doubt on the Newsnight programme. You didn’t know that happened?

E: No, I’m afraid I didn’t.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in