Richard Sharp: Report on appointment of BBC chairman expected

A study examining the assignment of the BBC's president Richard Sharp is expected imminently.

Adam Heppinstall KC has examined whether the assignment was successful enactment with the government's Governance Code for Public Appointments.

It follows questions raised astir Mr Sharp's relation successful securing a indebtedness for the past Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

While determination has not been authoritative confirmation, sources accidental the study could beryllium published connected Friday.

The KC-led reappraisal was tasked with investigating whether Mr Sharp failed to decently disclose details of his engagement successful the facilitation of an £800,000 indebtedness warrant to Mr Johnson.

He has denied immoderate engagement successful the statement of a indebtedness and a spokesperson for him has antecedently said that helium did not facilitate an instauration betwixt Mr Johnson and businessman Sam Blyth and that helium was not progressive successful the statement of a indebtedness betwixt them.

But a cross-party committee said that helium had not fixed them the "full facts" 2 years agone erstwhile they were considering his suitability for the BBC role.

The BBC is besides conducting its ain interior reappraisal implicit immoderate imaginable conflicts of involvement Mr Sharp whitethorn person successful his existent relation arsenic BBC chairman.

Mr Sharp was named arsenic the government's preferred campaigner for the BBC chairmanship successful January 2021 and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) committee backed his appointment.

The government's prime is yet decided by the premier minister, connected the proposal of the civilization secretary, who is successful crook advised by a panel.

Mr Sharp was asked to look earlier the committee successful February pursuing the claims astir a indebtedness to Mr Johnson, which were first reported by the Sunday Times.