Alan Yentob steps down as BBC creative director (but keeps his £150,000 TV gig)

Alan Yentob has dramatically quit his £183,300 per year creative director role at the BBC. Today’s decision comes after Yentob became the subject of intense scrutiny in recent months regarding the BBC’s coverage of the Kids Company scandal.

In a statement, Yentob – who was the chairman of Kids Company – explains his decision to leave, citing the Kids Company scandal — which The Spectator were the first to cast light on — as a contributing factor:

‘The BBC is going through particularly challenging times and I have come to believe that the speculation about Kids Company and the media coverage revolving around my role is proving a serious distraction.’

However, it’s not all bad news for poor old Yentob as he will be keeping his plum side-job presenting Imagine:

‘So I have spoken to [BBC director general] Tony Hall and told him that I think it best that I step down from my senior management role as creative director at the end of this year and focus on programme-making and TV production – including of course the Imagine series.