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No BBC probe over Jay Hunt's media company involvement
3 Aug 2009The controller of BBC One will not be investigated for her involvement in running a media company which makes money teaching the corporation's own presenters, bosses said.
Jay Hunt is company secretary of BrightsparkTV, which is owned by her husband and has a reported annual turnover of £117,000.
Despite criticism of close links between one of the BBC's highest-ranking managers and a company benefiting from corporation contracts, a BBC spokesman said there was no case to answer.
He said: "The BBC's rigorous conflict of interest policy lays down strict procedures to prevent an actual conflict of interest arising.
"Where executives have a close relationship with someone in a company we are doing significant business with, they may not play a role in the decision making process related to the award of any such business, including any commercial sum agreed."
BrightsparkTV was founded by Ms Hunt and her husband Ian Blandford, according to the Mail on Sunday.
The firm has a contract with the BBC to coach staff and uses the corporation's studios, the paper reported.
Mr Blandford has presented a number of BBC property programmes, although he is not a BBC employee.
BBC One boss Ms Hunt has more viewers and a bigger budget than any other channel controller in the UK.
In the last 12 months she dealt with high profile problems on the channel including Carol Thatcher's "golliwog" remark in the green room of The One Show to John Sergeant's decision to quit Strictly Come Dancing.
She has been in the job little more than a year, having previously been the head of daytime and the editor of the One and Six O'Clock News.
Reader views (4)
Stunned no enquiry what a shock !
- Taki -Finchley, London, 03/08/2009 13:32
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Surprised anyone?
- Steve, Brentford, 03/08/2009 11:56
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At a time when most taxpayers see the whole of the Public Sector as being on a gravey train, at our expense, not only has our money be spent correctly, but seen to be. This deal may be above board, but it does not look above board. It is clearly wrong for senior employees of a publicly funded body to provide goods or services privatly to that body.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 03/08/2009 10:08
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Seems all public bodies are wide open to financial abuse, but then I suppose when the standards are set from the top why am I surprised.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 03/08/2009 09:33
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