BBC names pair to head
Savile probe

Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith and former Sky News executive Nick Pollard are to lead the BBC’s independent reviews stemming from the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations.

Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith and former Sky News executive Nick Pollard are to lead the BBC’s independent reviews stemming from the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations.

The corporation last week announced separate inquiries and now the two heads have been appointed by the BBC Executive and agreed by the BBC Trust.

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Dame Janet will lead the
examination of the “culture and practices of the BBC” during the years Savile worked there.

Mr Pollard, a former head of Sky News, will look into whether there were any “failings” in the way a Newsnight report into claims against Savile was handled.

The planned news report was dropped late last year and there have been suggestions the decision was made because the BBC was planning more favourable programmes, claims the BBC has denied.

The Pollard review will also look into the handling of material that may have been of interest to the police or other authorities.

Dame Janet – whose inquiry will not begin until police indicate they are happy for it to proceed – will be assisted by an expert in child safeguards.

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