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The BBC has introduced in a senior Deloitte accomplice specialising in forensic investigations to assist oversee a evaluation into the interior procedures that didn’t escalate complaints in opposition to star information reader Huw Edwards.

The company is assessing, by way of a number of probes, the way in which it dealt with allegations that the now-suspended presenter paid for sexually specific photographs from an adolescent and why they weren’t escalated extra rapidly to its board.

Dame Elan Closs Stephens, performing BBC chair, instructed the Home of Lords communications committee on Tuesday that the evaluation of inner procedures can be overseen by Sir Nick Serota, a non-executive BBC board member, and Deloitte’s Simon Cuerden. He runs the fraud, information and disputes group within the consulting agency’s forensic enterprise.

Director-general Tim Davie, who additionally appeared earlier than the committee, stated the BBC had launched a separate investigation into the conduct of Edwards, who’s receiving hospital remedy for psychological well being points.

He stated this fact-finding probe may take weeks and even months because it sifted by the allegations in opposition to the BBC’s highest-paid information reader. 

Insiders say it may very well be tough for Edwards to return, citing the claims that he despatched “inappropriate messages” to some colleagues.

Davie stated the BBC had spoken to the unique claimant, whose determination to talk to The Solar newspaper triggered the scandal. Closs Stephens stated the company’s plan of motion had been shared by letter with tradition secretary Lucy Frazer.

In that letter, Closs Stephens stated it was “too early to find out if a disciplinary case could also be required” in opposition to Edwards.

Individually, Davie instructed friends that the BBC had begun an inner probe into future funding preparations, which might feed right into a beforehand introduced authorities evaluation that’s anticipated to start later this yr.

“We have to take a look at the choices,” stated Davie, including that he was dedicated to publishing a brand new technique concerning the publicly funded company’s future and priorities earlier than the tip of this yr in an effort to tell public debate.

In January 2022, ministers imposed one of many fiercest funding squeezes on the BBC in a long time, freezing the licence price at £159 per family for 2 years. That compelled the company, whose real-term funding has fallen by about one-third since 2010, to make new sweeping cuts.

Saying the evaluation final yr, the federal government stated the “broadcasting sector continues to vary quickly [and] an rising variety of households are selecting to not maintain a TV licence, as fewer individuals select to look at dwell TV or different actions that require a TV licence”.