on essentially en essentially like a slew dribbling on essentially like a slow puncture of headlines and questions, remember third linekerfirestorm are remember third lineker firestorm are all that remember third linekerfirestorm are all that was taking place and there was chaos in bbc output with programmes falling off air? a former bbc chairman, chris patten, said that as the moment with the bbc chairman should be out there as an ambassadorfor the bbc, taking ambassador for the bbc, taking control, ambassadorfor the bbc, taking control, and being seen to be doing something about it, but we saw nothing of richard sharpe during that period. these really matter in terms of the reputation and the perception of the bbc and can you trust it. did he tell the full truth to the appointments panel? quite clearly, he didn't. that is a crucial, crucial issue. openness, fairness, transparency. telling the truth. ,. fairness, transparency. telling the truth. , , truth. david, presumably the line cominu truth. david, presumably the line coming out _ truth. david, presumably the line coming out of _ truth. david, presumably the line coming out of richard _ truth. david, presumably the line coming out of richard sharpe - truth. david, presumably the line coming out of richard sharpe asl coming out of richard sharpe as regrets, i've had a few. that would seem to be his main comment today,

that he really wished he had said something to somebody at a particular time, something to somebody at a particulartime, but when something to somebody at a particular time, but when you say the director—general visited him yesterday, obviously the director—general can express out the bbc is failing, but he can't get him to do anything in terms of resigning. to do anything in terms of resigning-— to do anything in terms of resiuanin. , , , ., resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, _ resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this _ resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this is _ resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this is the _ resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this is the gift - resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this is the gift of - resigning. exactly, this is not the bbc issue, this is the gift of the i bbc issue, this is the gift of the government and it has been since the very beginning in 1922 and pretty much every bbc chairman has had a quite clear political affiliation. only one or two i can think of what we have not known how they have voted. chris patton was a cabinet minister for voted. chris patton was a cabinet ministerfor the voted. chris patton was a cabinet minister for the conservative government. there have been labour chairman is well over the years. it is at an arms length distance from the day—to—day control, which is done by the director—general. the job of the chairman essentially is

to be the person that when the bbc really bugs up, they sat the director—general. today, well, the director—general. today, well, the director—general appears to have not had the confidence of everyone behind him and made the decision about it. the board said that they accept and understand, they haven't said that they wanted him to stay on. . , , , �* on. finally, david, this isn't something _ on. finally, david, this isn't something that _ on. finally, david, this isn't something that the - on. finally, david, this isn't something that the bbc - on. finally, david, this isn't. something that the bbc could on. finally, david, this isn't- something that the bbc could have speeded up, is it? that is the problem with the process of the chairman, if they get themselves into a mess, they can just watch and see what's happening. they into a mess, they can “ust watch and see what's happening.— into a mess, they can “ust watch and see what's happening. they have been b standers, see what's happening. they have been bystanders, observers. _ see what's happening. they have been bystanders, observers. there - see what's happening. they have been bystanders, observers. there is - bystanders, observers. there is nothing you can do about the chairman given that it is an outside appointments. they are essentially there to be the eyes of the people who pay for the bbc. the licence payers pay for it. there needs to be some accountability and that is part

of the process. the keyjob of the bbc chairman is to ensure independence, openness, transparency, all of these have been thrown into question by these weeks and weeks of revelations and uncomfortable headlines and criticism of the chairman. a decision finally has come to a point now with this publication of this report. now with this publication of this re ort. . ~ now with this publication of this reort. . ~' ,, now with this publication of this reort. ., ~ ,, ,, now with this publication of this re ort. ., ~ ,, ,, ., report. thank you, david. quite a waitin: report. thank you, david. quite a waiting game _ report. thank you, david. quite a waiting game for— report. thank you, david. quite a waiting game for p _ report. thank you, david. quite a waiting game for p beauties -- i report. thank you, david. quite a l waiting game for p beauties -- bbc waiting game for p beauties —— bbc staff, of course. let's talk to the national broadcasting organiser for the national union ofjournalists. it is your reaction to this news? we are at your — it is your reaction to this news? - are at your annual conference in london at the moment. when the news was announced at ten o'clock there was announced at ten o'clock there was spontaneous applause and cheering. the chairman lost the confidence of the staff a long time

ago. 96% of people who responded to app ago. 96% of people who responded to app service that they no longer had confidence in richard sharpe. i'm quite surprised li% did have confidence in him. his position has been untenable for a long time. anyone with any kind of self—awareness would have stood down some time ago. he has been absent. when he should have been leading from the front over the gary lineker incident he was nowhere to be seen. we know that the bbc prides itself on impartiality and when the chairman himself is facing accusations that he is not impartial, that position becomes untenable. 50 impartial, that position becomes untenable. , , . untenable. so this is a very popular decision, this _ untenable. so this is a very popular decision, this resignation, - untenable. so this is a very popular decision, this resignation, with - untenable. so this is a very popular decision, this resignation, with the| decision, this resignation, with the workforce. ., , decision, this resignation, with the workforce. ., . ., workforce. people were willing to cive workforce. people were willing to give richard _ workforce. people were willing to give richard sharpe _ workforce. people were willing to give richard sharpe a _ workforce. people were willing to give richard sharpe a chance. - workforce. people were willing to - give richard sharpe a chance. among the names being bandied around at

the names being bandied around at the time, he was probably the best of a bad bunch. the time, he was probably the best ofa bad bunch. in the time, he was probably the best of a bad bunch. in terms of when he started he did some good things. he did have the confidence of the staff. but once you start facing accusations that you're not impartial, once he became embroiled in the borisjohnson financial affairs, once it came out that he had given money previously to various pressure groups that were anti—bbc, becomes obvious he will not have the confidence of journalists. when in a previous life giving money to pressure groups that want to get rid of the bbc, how can you retain the confidence of your staff? ~ . . you retain the confidence of your staff? ~ ., , ., , you retain the confidence of your staff? . ., , , , ., staff? was there any sense that richard sharpe _ staff? was there any sense that richard sharpe could _ staff? was there any sense that richard sharpe could be - staff? was there any sense that richard sharpe could be a - staff? was there any sense that richard sharpe could be a good| staff? was there any sense that. richard sharpe could be a good ally of the bbc, by being a close ally to the government with these crucial negotiations coming up between the bbc and the government? in the beauinnin bbc and the government? in the beginning he _ bbc and the government? in the beginning he was _ bbc and the government? in the beginning he was a _ bbc and the government? in the beginning he was a good - bbc and the government? in the i beginning he was a good chairman. bbc and the government? in ii�*ué beginning he was a good chairman. he went into the back for the bbc in terms of cut to the world service. he didn't necessarily do a bad job.

but once you are tarnished, accused of being not impartial, your position becomes untenable. i don't understood why he hung on for so long. he should have resigned weeks ago. he shouldn't have waited until tim davie sacked him, which appears to whatever happens. it seems that tim davie had set his position was untenable. i don't understand why it is taken so long. it is time we took the politics out of this appointment. your previous maker said it has been a political appointment for the best part of a hundred years, but that doesn't mean it is right. we can't have the bbc chairman being a political appointment. it is time to have a panel to select the next chairman made up of viewers and listeners, members of staff, members from the trade unions. we can't have a being another political appointment. the

main objective of the chairman is to defend the independence and impartiality of the bbc. you think a process like that could work? iagi’hy process like that could work? why not? the current _ process like that could work? teeny not? the current process process like that could work? “hwy not? the current process does not work very well. it is time to try something else. whoever gets thejob has to be experienced and be willing, as part of theirjob, to defend the bbc, but why do you have to be a political appointment in order to defend the bbc? people can come from a range of different backgrounds, as long as they approve bbc, prepared to go to bat for the bbci do understand why it has to be a political appointment. he needs to be somebody who can stand up to the government of the day, but that doesn't mean it has to be a politician or a political appointment.- politician or a political appointment. politician or a political a- ointment. ., ., , appointment. on the day that he has resianed, appointment. on the day that he has resigned. we — appointment. on the day that he has resigned, we heard _ appointment. on the day that he has resigned, we heard that _ appointment. on the day that he has resigned, we heard that information| resigned, we heard that information that he had a visit from tim davie,

but how do you know that tim davie had sacked him, are you assuming that from what you have heard? yes. that from what you have heard? yes, exactl . i that from what you have heard? yes, exactly- i have _ that from what you have heard? yes, exactly. i have been _ that from what you have heard? yes, exactly. i have been in _ that from what you have heard? yes, exactly. i have been in the _ exactly. i have been in the conference on ten o'clock this morning so i am only reading the bbc website to catch up with what is going on. if you don't have the confidence of the dg, you can't carry on as the chairman, can you? i think tim davie could have spoken out some time ago and said he had lost confidence in richard sharpe. he has waited until the findings of the report, but how can tim davie hand on heart said today that he still had confidence in richard sharpe? you couldn't. i think it is quite clear that tim davie explain to richard sharpe that his position was untenable i think that has a lot to do with richard sharpe as my decision today to stand down. the prime minister hasjust said he has

not seen the report into richard sharpe and was unable to guarantee a nonpolitical figure would replace him. i'm not sure that that panel will be up and running byjune, but we will wait to see how this runs out. this is the day that the bbc chairman has announced he“s resigning. what is his legacy? iagi’hat resigning. what is his legacy? what is his legacy? _ resigning. what is his legacy? what is his legacy? you _ resigning. what is his legacy? what is his legacy? you save _ resigning. what is his legacy? “transit is his legacy? you save the difficult question to last. what is his legacy? i can think in my lifetime of a chairman who has managed to generate so much bad publicity, that has managed to tarnish the reputation of the bbc notjust in the uk but around the world. he has managed... i“m struggling to think of anything good he has done that will enhance his legacy. i don't think he will get more than a footnote in the history of bbc chairman over the last 100 years. i can think of anyone who has

done more damage to the bbc, certainly in my lifetime and i'm 56 years old. i“m certainly in my lifetime and i'm 56 years old. i'm not sure he is leaving behind a great legacy. he is leaving behind a great legacy. he is leaving behind a very bad legacy. the bbc will move on. richard sharpe will be nothing more than a footnote. he has done some damage in the short time he has been imposed, but this not, i believe, cause lasting damage to the bbc. if something good comes out of it, for example he is not a political appointment or hisses —— if it is —— if his replacement is a political appointment but the long—term effect of the scandal around richard sharpe or do some good in the long term. thank you very much forjoining us here on the bbc. this is the day that the bbc chairman has resigned. we have heard from a lot of bbc

bigwigs this morning, a lot of former bbc bigwigs. we heard from richard mosley. have a listen to how he responded to the resignation of richard sharpe a little earlier. i think it is right and inevitable. there is a question of what happened in the process which we have heard about today, but for me the most important thing is could this man lead the bbc in the future. if you are a chair of the bbc, it is a pretty high threshold. you are the person insisting on the high standards, so it is a pretty high threshold. you are the person insisting on the high standards, so to stop doing that not to have followed the best possible processes in being richard sharpe is clearly a man of talent and the word from inside the bbc was that he was doing a good job as chair and there is a sense sometimes in which it political appointment can go happily native in the bbc and be a good

supporter of the bbc. but she saw during the gary lineker affair when you have a major controversy about impartiality, you are having to handle top talent in the bbc and insist they stick by impartiality and you can't do that if you are compromised yourself, and so tied up at defending your own position, that in public at least, richard sharpe was invisible during that time. you need to be a person of unqualified integrity yourself. this need to be a person of unqualified integrity yourself.— integrity yourself. this is the re ort integrity yourself. this is the report that — integrity yourself. this is the report that did _ integrity yourself. this is the report that did it _ integrity yourself. this is the report that did it for - integrity yourself. this is the report that did it for richard | report that did it for richard sharpe, the bbc chairman. 25 pages. we have flicked through this. what if you find? we have flicked through this. what if ou find? , ., we have flicked through this. what if ou find? , . , if you find? delving a little deeper into that report, _ if you find? delving a little deeper into that report, this _ if you find? delving a little deeper into that report, this is _ if you find? delving a little deeper into that report, this is page - if you find? delving a little deeper into that report, this is page 16. l into that report, this is page 16. this is where one of the key points

are being made. that is that the governor's code puts the application of disclosure on the candidates, in this case richard sharpe, not on others. it is for candidates to make their own judgment. others. it is for candidates to make their ownjudgment. that others. it is for candidates to make their own judgment. that is others. it is for candidates to make their ownjudgment. that is key because what it essentially says his richard sharpe was under that obligation to report any potential perception of conflict—of—interest, which the report finds he did not. the report does say it is really about the risks that richard sharpe was not seen as independent of the prime minister at the time, boris johnson. it is about the perception issue. the report does not make any specific conclusions, as you can see here, about his actual culpability or perceived culpability. the report does say that it does not really judge his independence in this matter, it is about the perception and the disclosure of those conflicts of interest. that is the

critical aspect of the report here as we delve further, says mr sharp is adamant he was adamant he would want to try to forestall any conflict of interest arising by removing himself from any form of intermediary in relation to the prime minister was “s personal finances. prime minister was 's personal finances. . .. prime minister was 's personal finances. ., ,, , ., prime minister was 's personal finances. ., «i , ., finances. thank you. so, the report has led to richard _ finances. thank you. so, the report has led to richard sharpe _ finances. thank you. so, the report has led to richard sharpe saying i finances. thank you. so, the report has led to richard sharpe saying he is resigning as bbc chairman today. we have heard from the prime minister, who has said he has not read the report yet, but he could not guarantee a nonpolitical figure would replace him. richard sharpe for his part has said it was an inadvertent mistake. he said that this was causing too much of a distraction for the organisation and we have heard a lot of discontent

within the bbc during this investigation, but the report has come out now and the chairman has resigned. this is bbc news. life in london, this is bbc news. live from london, this is bbc news. russia launches a new wave of air strikes against cities across ukraine. at least 13 people have been killed in the attacks. i have therefore, this morning, resigned as the bbc chair to the secretary of state and to the board. we will be exploring why richard sharp has announced he will stand down as bbc chairman. in sudan, both sides in the conflict agree to extend a ceasefire for another three days, despite reports of heavy fighting. thank you so much for your time, everybody. i will miss you. good night. cheering and applause and james corden signs off the late late show for the final time, eight years after he took over the prestigious late night programme.