On Monday, Tim Davie confirmed Gary Lineker’s return to the BBC later this week (Picture: BBC)
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, sat down for an interview with BBC journalist David Sillito on Monday shortly after confirming that Gary Lineker would return to hosting duties this week.
Last week, a tweet Lineker shared sparked intense debates over the broadcaster’s impartiality rules.
His social media post compared the Home Office’s migrant boat policy to Nazi Germany, sparking both widespread praise and criticism.
While the 62-year-old said that he stood by his social media post, it was revealed that he’d been asked to step back from presenting Match of the Day on Saturday, March 11.
Now, in what’s been billed as a ‘car crash’ interview, Sillito gave Davie a grilling and said: ‘This looks like a complete climbdown from the BBC.’
Davie quickly replied: ‘I don’t think so. I’ve always said we need to take proportionate action, for some people, by the way, we’ve taken too severe action. Others think we’ve been too lenient.’
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He went on: ‘There’s never been an easy solution but asking Gary to step back off air was a significant thing and now with this agreement we look forward to resolving things and getting back to business as usual.’
Earlier on Monday, Davie confirmed Lineker’s return saying: ‘Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend.’
Lineker himself said: ‘I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.’
Davies also confirmed the BBC would undergo a social media guidance review.
His statement read: ‘Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences.
‘I apologise for this. The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air.’
He went on: ‘Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public. The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression.
‘That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles.’
Davies also said: ‘The BBC’s social media guidance is designed to help manage these sometimes difficult challenges and I am aware there is a need to ensure that the guidance is up to this task. It should be clear, proportionate, and appropriate.
‘Accordingly, we are announcing a review led by an independent expert – reporting to the BBC – on its existing social media guidance, with a particular focus on how it applies to freelancers outside news and current affairs. The BBC and myself are aware that Gary is in favour of such a review.’
He concluded: ‘Shortly, the BBC will announce who will conduct that review. Whilst this work is undertaken, the BBC’s current social media guidance remains in place.’
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Lineker will return to Match of the Day this week.