Tim Davie, the director general of the BBC, told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday that he could not give a "categorical assurance" that there would not be further scandals involving on-air figures at the broadcaster.
Speaking as he and BBC chair Dr Samir Shah were questioned over a string of recent controversies, Davie said culture change at the corporation was "ongoing work" and warned that more allegations could come to light as the organisation pursues greater transparency.
"Can I give a categorical assurance that I'm never going to have someone abusing their power at the BBC? No," Davie told the committee. He said the BBC had dismissed people who were "not living our values" and described that stance as "non-negotiable." He added that he was asking for problems to be called out and said the corporation was "being utterly transparent and running towards the problem."
Davie's remarks came amid scrutiny of several high-profile episodes that have raised questions about governance and impartiality at the public broadcaster. MPs pressed the leadership on the handling of complaints about MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace and on the fallout from presenter Huw Edwards's case, as well as on the commissioning and editorial processes behind a documentary, Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone, which later emerged to have been narrated by the son of a senior Hamas figure.
Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage told the hearing that the documentary episode had been a "hugely damaging episode" for the BBC's reputation for impartiality. MPs also put questions to Davie and Shah about live coverage of the Glastonbury festival in which members of the rap group Bob Vylan chanted "death to the IDF."
Davie declined to give a running commentary on ongoing matters and refused to say whether there were more specific allegations he could disclose, saying he would not provide a "running commentary" on developing scandals. When asked at the start of the session whether he would consider his own position following the summer of controversies, Davie said only that he had been "feeling the pressure." "If I said I wasn't feeling the pressure I would be inhuman," he said.
During the session Davie also questioned the usefulness of the term "talent" to describe BBC presenters and contributors, saying he did not recognise the label. At one point he said, "We're not mucking about now," prompting Dinenage to ask whether that implied the corporation had been "mucking about" previously.
Davie and Shah faced sustained questioning about what measures the BBC is taking to prevent future problems, how it vets contributors and narrators, and how editorial decisions are supervised. Davie said changing culture cannot be achieved quickly, arguing that a process of sustained reforms and more openness about allegations would be necessary.
He told MPs the BBC had taken action where standards were not met, but would not outline detailed personnel matters in the public hearing. The director general said that the corporation must balance transparency with due process when responding to allegations.
The committee hearing continued as MPs examined internal processes, the BBC's complaints handling and whether the broadcaster's leadership had been sufficiently proactive in addressing the issues. Davie and Shah are expected to face further scrutiny from regulators and parliamentary bodies as inquiries and reviews into the recent incidents proceed.
This is a developing story.