The BBC is to explain its decision to pull the plug on a Newsnight Jimmy Savile investigation after journalists at the broadcasters flagship current affairs programme lined up to query the decision.
Thus far the BBC has merely stated that the decision not to air the investigation was taken due to ‘editorial reasons’ but has refused to elaborate further.
This hasn’t satisfied several BBC journalists however who have written to BBC director general George Entwhistle to seek clarification as to why the programme was dropped.
In response Entwhistle has appointed Ken MacQuarrie, head of BBC Scotland, to answer their questions which are thought to include whether or not the plug was pulled to avoid embarrassment around a then in-production tribute programme to the disgraced presenter.
It is also claimed that the corporation was aware of sex abuse claims but failed to act on them.
Conservative party chairman Grant Schapps said: “It's particularly disturbing that a programme paying tribute, a three-parter, went out just last Christmas after it was already known at senior levels within the BBC that something was wrong, enough to have had a serious Newsnight programme made about it and enough to raise serious concerns.”