BBC editor leaves post as differences emerge over Savile probe

BBC Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has stepped aside after the corporation said his explanation of why the show dropped its investigation into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal was “inaccurate or incomplete”.

He has handed over control of the current affairs show while an inquiry into how the BBC handled the scandal is carried out.

Earlier this month, Rippon defended his decision to axe the report in a BBC blog but the corporation has now issued a correction.

He originally said there was no evidence staff at the Duncroft approved school could have known about allegations Savile abused children, but the BBC said: “In fact some allegations were made (mostly in general terms) that some of the Duncroft staff knew or may have known about the abuse.”

Rippon also said the women who spoke to Newsnight journalists had already spoken to police, but the BBC now says that is untrue and Newsnight actually uncovered new evidence about Savile’s alleged crimes.

It comes after excerpts from last night’s edition of Panorama highlighted the different explanations given by BBC bosses about the nature of the documentary and why it was dropped.

In the aftermath, BBC director-general George Entwistle wrote to all staff saying that the Newsnight investigation was into “Surrey Police’s inquiry into Jimmy Savile towards the end of 2011”.

But producer Meirion Jones immediately emailed Entwistle writing: “George — one note — the investigation was into whether Jimmy Savile was a paedophile — I know because it was my investigation.

“We didn’t know that Surrey Police had investigated Jimmy Savile — no-one did — that was what we found when we investigated and interviewed his victims.”