London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

Richard Sharp: PM should not appoint BBC chair, says David Dimbleby

Richard Sharp: PM should not appoint BBC chair, says David Dimbleby

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has said the BBC chairman should not be decided by the prime minister, following Richard Sharp's resignation.
Mr Dimbleby called for a "cross party" public commission to make the final recommendation.

Mr Sharp resigned after breaking rules over dealings with ex-PM Boris Johnson before his appointment as BBC chair.

The role is currently decided through a "fair and open competition", but the PM ultimately has the final say.

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Dimbleby - who has worked for the BBC since the 1960s and has twice applied for the role of chairman - ruled himself out of becoming Mr Sharp's replacement.

He called for a bipartisan board "made up of all political parties" to decide on a person to run the BBC who "sets their politics to one side".

He said the current process "creates suspicion about the role of a prime minister", adding that a new process of appointment was important to ensuring the "subjectivity ... balance and fairness" of the BBC.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who last month was at the centre of an impartiality row at the BBC, said on Friday that the corporation's chairman "should not be selected by the government of the day. Not now, not ever".

Damian Green, acting chair of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said there was a need to restore faith in the system used to appoint the BBC chair.

"I would hope and expect that when we come to … appointing the next chair of the BBC, that everyone does it properly … that everyone reveals any potential conflict of interest to the interview panel and to us as a select committee," he said, adding that such a process would "restore faith in the system".

Mr Green also said he was confident that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would take the appointment for Mr Sharp's replacement "perfectly seriously".

According to the Broadcasting Royal Charter, the appointment must only be made following "a fair and open competition", and the chair can only be appointed or sacked by the culture secretary - who is advised by a government-appointed panel. However, as the head of government, it is ultimately the prime minister who has the final say.

The BBC's director general, who has ultimate editorial control over the organisation, does not have the power to remove them.

Mr Sharp resigned as BBC chairman on Friday after a report found he had failed to disclose two "potential perceived" conflicts of interest ahead of his appointment.

The first was telling Mr Johnson - who was then prime minister - that he wished to apply for the role before submitting his application.

The second related to his involvement in the facilitation of a loan guarantee for the former prime minister.

The report notes that Mr Sharp does not accept the first conclusion, but he has apologised for the second, although he described it as "entirely inadvertent".

In his resignation statement, Mr Sharp said that, while he maintained that "the breach was inadvertent and not material", he was standing down because "it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC".

He will remain in post until a successor is appointed in June.

Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Mr Sunak said he had not seen the report, and that it was right to turn to the "established" appointments process regarding the next chair of the BBC.

Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the BBC was "far too important" for the government to appoint its "mates" to its board and to the role of chairman.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×