BBC sets up new standards panel

Chaired by deputy director general Mark Byford, it brings together staff from across the BBC to review procedures.

It will also implement measures to ensure lapses like those discovered on Blue Peter never happen again.

The BBC also said former executive Will Wyatt will head an inquiry into misleading footage of the Queen.

A promotional clip from documentary programme A Year With The Queen was shown at a BBC One press launch, and erroneously portrayed the monarch as walking out of a photo-shoot "in a huff".

Public report

Mr Wyatt will investigate how the misrepresentation occurred and report to BBC director general Mark Thompson in September.

Mr Thompson will in turn present the findings to the BBC Trust in October, and the report will be made public.

Mr Wyatt was chief executive of BBC Broadcast and managing director of BBC Television during the 1990s.

He is currently chairman of Human Capital plc.

Suspensions

The BBC yesterday suspended several senior members of staff over editorial breaches in six programmes.

BBC One's Sports Relief in July 2006, Comic Relief in March 2007, Children In Need on BBC Scotland in November 2005, The Liz Kershaw Show on BBC 6 Music and CBBC programme TMi were all involved.

Mr Thompson has outlined a "zero tolerance" approach to future lapses.

All phone-related competitions on BBC TV and radio have ceased, while interactive and online competitions will be taken down as soon as possible.

Other measures outlined in Mr Thompson's action plan include mandatory training for 16,500 staff.

These will be implemented by the newly appointed editorial standards board.

The corporation said the board would comprise of directors of programme and content areas along with other senior staff and an independent director from the BBC's executive board, Samir Shah.

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