BBC Chair Appointment: Culture Committee Approves Samir Shah but Is ‘Disappointed’ Over Lack of Response on ‘Fundamental Issues’
The BBC is one step closer to getting its new chair following the resignation of Richard Sharp earlier this year.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which interviewed Samir Shah earlier this week, has officially approved his appointment but expressed “disappointment” over the longtime TV executive’s unwillingness “to express a view on fundamental principles, such as board level interference in the BBC and other bodies and on political impartiality.”
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The committee has requested that if Shah is officially appointed for the role, he re-appear again for questioning within three months to “demonstrate that he has considered and addressed the concerns.”
Because the BBC is a publicly funded public service broadcaster, effectively held in trust for the public by the U.K. government, the culture secretary and Prime Minister are involved in appointing the broadcaster’s chair (but not its director general, currently Tim Davie). After they confirm their preferred candidate, in this case Juniper TV CEO Shah, the candidate must attend a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing with the Culture, Media and Sport committee. Once the committee approves the candidate the Prime Minister can make a recommendation to the King, who will rubber-stamp the appointment.
Member of Parliament Caroline Dinenage, who chairs the committee, said: “We were disappointed that Dr Shah was unwilling to express a view on such fundamental principles as board level interference and political impartiality, nor demonstrate an appetite for the robust challenge that is needed at the top of the BBC.”
“It is now for the Government to consider whether to go ahead with the appointment. If they decide to proceed, we expect Dr Shah to appear before us in the new year to demonstrate he has addressed our concerns.”
The BBC is currently facing a number of challenges, including cuts to funding and uproar about its stance on everything from its social media policies for staff to reporting over the Hamas-Israel conflict.
Shah will replace Sharp, who stepped down in April after it emerged he had failed to disclose his role in helping former Prime Minister Boris Johnson secure a loan. Elan Closs Stephens was appointed interim chair as the government searched for a new candidate.
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