Entwistle said €560,000 payoff ‘not enough’

The BBC Trust chairman insisted he had to give former director general George Entwistle a huge payoff when he quit in the wake of paedophilia scandals engulfing the corporation — and hinted that Entwistle wanted even more money.

Chris Patten told legislators that the £450,000 (€560,000) given to Entwistle after 54 days in the job was “one hell of a lot of money”, but there was no better option on the table.

The BBC has been battered by claims Jimmy Savile — one of its biggest stars — was among Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, as well as a television report wrongly accusing a politician of paedophilia.