BBC Director-General Mark Thompson confirms autumn departure

THE Director-General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, has confirmed in an email to staff that he is to “step down” from the role this autumn.

It was reported in January that he would quit his job either after the Olympics or early next year, after he indicated to senior colleagues that he was ready to move on.

Confirmation came today after a meeting with BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten.

Thompson said: “This morning I told Lord Patten that I believe that an appropriate time for me to hand over to a successor and to step down as Director-General of the BBC would be the autumn of this year, once the Olympics and the rest of the amazing summer of 2012 are over.”

Lord Patten said Mr Thompson had been “an outstanding Director-General”.

He said: “He took over during a traumatic period in the corporation’s history and subsequently enhanced its reputation for creativity and quality, while setting the course for the BBC’s digital future. I will miss him on both a personal and professional level and I wish him the very best of luck for the future. The trust will shortly begin the process of recruiting a successor.”

His time in the top job has seen the BBC hit by scandals including Sachsgate, which saw a public outcry over obscene messages left by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand on Andrew Sachs’ answerphone, which were then broadcast on Brand’s Radio 2 show.

In 2007, there was also Crowngate which saw then BBC1 controller Peter Fincham resign after misleading footage appearing to show the Queen storming out of a photoshoot was used in a trailer.

The issues of excessive pay, salaries for top talent and bonuses also caused problems with the BBC taking on a more transparent stance and publishing executive’s expenses claims.

Mr Thompson used a speech to the 2010 Edinburgh International Television Festival to announce a more austere approach, warning that forthcoming cuts would lead to the loss of “established stars”.

He also oversaw the move to Salford which has seen around 2,000 staff move north and some high-profile faces, including BBC Breakfast Sian Williams, refuse to go.

Successes include the launch of the iPlayer which has been a huge hit and allows viewers to catch up on shows via internet-connected TVs, computers and mobile phones.

Mr Thompson also oversaw the Delivering Quality First process which saw the BBC commit to saving billions of pounds from its budget after the annual licence fee was frozen at £145.50 for six years.

The corporation’s treatment of older women also caused it problems with Mr Thompson recently admitting there are not enough of them appearing in television’s top programmes and presenting roles.

The issue came to a head at the corporation last year when former Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly won an age discrimination case against the BBC after being rejected for a role on a revamped version of the show.

Despite that, Mr Thompson’s departure could lead to the BBC getting its first female director-general.

Its chief operating officer Caroline Thomson is second favourite to succeed Mark Thompson in the role, according to bookmakers.

George Entwistle - director of BBC Vision - was declared the early favourite to take on the top job when rumours first emerged that Mr Thompson could be on his way out.