BBC Brings In Deloitte Partner To Help With Huw Edwards Review But Says It Won’t Publish For Several Months

deadline.com:

The BBC has drafted in a senior partner from Deloitte to help with its high-profile review into protocols following the Huw Edwards scandal, which Tim Davie revealed should complete in the late Autumn.

Simon Cuerden, who leads the accounting giant’s Fraud, Data and Disputes team, will support BBC Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva and the Board’s Senior Independent Director Nick Serota on the review, which DG Tim Davie said today will publish its terms of reference later this week but will not be completed for several months.

Speaking to the Lords Communications and Culture Commnittee in the past few minutes, Davie said the review will “go through the process in terms of understanding what we do and whether we need to adjust protecols and procedures.” “I have asked to see what is flagged [throughout] to ensure the consistency during the period we do the review,” he said.

A separate ‘factfinding investigation’ into the Edwards scandal is taking place simultaneously but Davie said it is “difficult to give a precise time” as to when that review will report back. “In some ways this is normal for the BBC with allegations with regard to individuals,” added Davie. “You have to go diligently, assess information and there are of course duty of care concerns.