BEEB TOLD: CUT LOSSES OVER CLIFF

Fee payers face huge bill

THE BBC is pressing on with plans to appeal against Sir Cliff Richard despite already racking up £2million in legal bills – all paid for from licence fees.

Telly bosses are now weighing up options for an appeal because of the ruling’s consequences for freedom of expression and the public’s right to know.

But critics say the broadcaster should cut its losses because the costs of an appeal – as well as the rest of the legal tariff – will come from the viewers’ TV licence fees.

The Beeb now faces a request for a downpayment on the pop star’s legal costs of £750,000 since May 2017 and £350,000 which was incurred by South Yorkshire police.

Its defeat in court last week also means it cannot expect to recoup its own costs of £617,000. The pop star will also seek damages of £350,000 for commercial deals lost due to the negative publicity, in addition to the £210,000 awarded last week – totalling £2.27m.

Lord Hall, director-general of the BBC, could have halted the dispute back in July 2016. He had received a legal letter from the singer’s team asking for a “full and unequivocal public apology” and “acknowledgment that the BBC had acted unlawfully”.

It is understood that had the BBC complied in open court, Sir Cliff would not have sought compensation.

But the BBC said: “There was a significant principle at stake in defending the naming of Sir Cliff, which wouldn’t have been possible if we had agreed a settlement.”