BBC Savile report not due until December

THE investigation into why a Newsnight report about Jimmy Savile was shelved is to take longer than expected.

The Pollard Review needs more time to conduct further interviews, examine documents and prepare the report, meaning it is not expected to deliver its findings until mid-December.

Former Sky News executive Nick Pollard, who is chairing the review, said it was making “good progress”.

It is looking into a planned news investigation into Savile late last year, which was dropped by the BBC2 programme. The axing of the proposed probe set in motion a chain of events which led to BBC director-general George Entwistle resigning from his post after just 54 days.

On Thursday, the BBC fast-tracked a replacement as head of the corporation when Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall was appointed as the new DG, taking over in March.

Mr Pollard was commissioned to lead the review on 16 October and his report had been expected to be delivered by this month.