CHARITY CHIEF’S BID TO CHANGE BBC SHOW

Sunday Mail Justin Forsyth asked BBC chiefs to water down a Panorama edition critical of Save the Children while he was the charity’s chief executive, a tape recording suggests.

In the phone conversation Forsyth – who has been dogged by allegations of inappropriate behaviour with female charity staff – was asked for a comment about Save the Children’s investment practices.

He said: “I’ve also spoken to other people at the BBC and they’ve told me a way that they want to handle this, so maybe you should talk to them too.”

The show, broadcast in 2013, was intended to be critical of Save the Children and their links to corporate

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donors such as energy firms and Glaxosmithkline.

A BBC producer believes Forsyth pulled strings with the then head of news James Harding to have a section where he was confronted by a reporter removed. He says Harding also ordered a filmed sit-down interview.

It is claimed he also insisted a quote was used that name-checked GSK and claimed kids’ lives could be saved using a GSK gel.

The BBC said: “We stand by our journalism.”