George Entwistle takes over as BBC boss

 

George Entwistle starts work as director-general of the BBC tomorrow and is expected to explain his vision of the corporation's future to staff later in the week.

The 50-year-old takes over from Mark Thompson who will become president and chief executive of the New York Times Company in November.

Entwistle will take on a much-reduced salary of £450,000, a £200,000-plus reduction on that paid to the outgoing boss.

He will send a short email message to staff on Monday but is expected to speak at greater length and outline some of the challenges facing the corporation in a speech a few days later.

He will meet BBC staff and programme-makers in London and outside the capital at some point in the week as well.

Among the challenges he faces are maintaining quality and staff morale with less money than his predecessor had for much of his time at the top and negotiating the renewal of the BBC charter in 2016.

He has previously been a current affairs programme-maker and until recently was in charge of the corporation's TV output as head of BBC Vision.

When his appointment was announced in July, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said both he and Entwistle thought there was room for improvement and they agreed the BBC could be "10% or 20% better" despite the cuts brought in after the latest licence fee settlement.

Speaking at the time, Entwistle said: "I love the BBC and it's a privilege to be asked to lead it into the next stage of its creative life."

Among those he is thought to have beaten to the top job were Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom who was seen as the frontrunner, and the BBC's chief operating officer Caroline Thomson.

His chances were at one stage thought to have diminished in the wake of the much-criticised BBC coverage of the Diamond Jubilee pageant, which came under his responsibility.

Entwistle joined the BBC as a trainee in 1989 after a short career in magazine journalism. He went on to be editor of Newsnight, head of current affairs with responsibility for programmes such as Panorama and was an acting controller of BBC4.

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
India and Shimla
14 nights from only £1899pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from £199pp Find out more
4* Soreda hotel break, Malta
Seven nights all-inclusive from £399pp Find out more
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs Media

PHP/ Drupal Developer

£35000 - £45000 per annum + Bens: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal/PHP Develope...

Work experience, student channel, Independent digital

Travel and lunch expenses: ESI Media: Rare work experience opportunity for asp...

Senior Site Manager - Processing

£28000 - £36000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...

Senior Agile Java Developer

£350 - £400 per day: Progressive Recruitment: Agile Java Developer London

Day In a Page

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in