BBC One controller Fincham resigns

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Fincham wrongly told journalists that the trailer for A Year With The Queen showed the monarch "walking out in a huff".

He was forced to go after an independent inquiry criticised "misjudgements, poor practice and ineffective systems" at the Corporation.

Stephen Lambert, head of production company RDF, which made the programme, also resigned.

Fincham announced at a press launch on July 11 that the documentary would show the Queen storming out of a sitting with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz following a row over whether or not she should remove her crown. Within hours he had discovered that the story was untrue - but did not correct it until the following day.

Footage in the trailer of the Queen apparently walking out was actually a scene of her walking into the photoshoot. The BBC eventually apologised at noon the following day.

Fincham refused all calls to resign in the days after the affair. Last month, Fincham told industry executives he hoped to be still in his job by Christmas.

The independent inquiry was carried out by former BBC executive Will Wyatt. He concluded that the decision - taken with the Buckingham Palace press office - to delay correcting the story until the following day was a "mistake". Wyatt was also highly critical of production company RDF, which made the programme and misleadingly edited the trailer.

Fincham said he was leaving the BBC "with great sadness".

BBC director-general Mark Thompson praised Fincham as an "outstanding controller" and a man of integrity.