BBC Director General Tim Davie has come under fire for declining to give interviews with outside news organisations amidst a number of scandals involving the corporation.
Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, one of the top presenters on Channel 4 News, has described the reticence of the BBC’s top execs as “utterly bizarre”.
“BBC bosses are again refusing to do interviews,” Guru-Murthy said on X on Thursday, “in fact the Director General has refused interview requests on the BBC Annual Report, the serious allegations at Strictly and now the Huw Edwards scandal.”
On Wednesday former BBC newsreader Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
“It is utterly bizarre that this public organisation that we all have a stake in is refusing to face questions on its behaviour,” Guru-Murthy said.
Davie, who was appointed BBC director general in 2020, gave an interview to BBC News about the Edwards scandal but has not appeared in outside media.
He said that the BBC learned of Edwards’ arrest for possession of indecent images of children in November 2023, but was asked by police to keep this information confidential.
Davie was invited to answer questions on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday morning but “declined” according to presenter Emma Barnett. He appeared later that day on BBC News.
As well as the Edwards scandal, the corporation is also under scrutiny after allegations of poor behaviour on the set of Strictly Come Dancing.
