Cameron calls for BBC to fix row over Savile
THE BBC yesterday came under further pressure to address allegations its bosses covered up sexual abuse claims levelled at the late Jimmy Savile, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying it had serious questions to answer.
Cameron waded into the row as the editor of the BBC’s Newsnight current affairs show, Peter Rippon, stepped aside after admitting he had given an “inaccurate” account of why the BBC axed its own expose of the alleged abuse of underage girls by Savile.
“These are serious questions. They need to be answered,” Cameron said of the cover-up claims.
New BBC chief George Entwistle is also facing calls to explain what happened. The media organisation is conducting two independent reviews: one looking at BBC star Savile’s actions and the other into why Newsnight’s report was dropped.
The scandal has also added to debate over whether the BBC should get licence fee cash.