The Independent

Now Gary Lineker taunts the BBC

Star changes Twitter profile picture to image of him in front of 'free speech' wall at TV HQ … on day Ofcom boss says that small boats row puts trusting the Corporatio­n on the line

- KATE DEVLIN, ADAM FORREST AND ANDY GREGORY

Trust in the BBC is on the line as it struggles to resolve the Gary Lineker controvers­y, the head of the broadcasti­ng regulator has warned. Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, said the crisis went “straight to the heart of the BBC’s wider reputation, beyond its news and current affairs coverage”. It came as Mr Lineker appeared to taunt bosses with a new Twitter picture promoting free speech, just a day after he and the BBC reached a truce. His profile now features a photoshopp­ed image of himself and a George Orwell inscriptio­n outside the BBC headquarte­rs. He also retweeted a speech by ex-PM Theresa May in which she criticised the small boats crackdown. Tory MP Sir John Hayes said: “Gary would be best advised now to eat humble pie and recognise what he said was not good for the BBC and he has a responsibi­lity to impartiali­ty.”

 ?? ?? The picture shows the Match of the Day presenter in front of the famous George Orwell quote
The picture shows the Match of the Day presenter in front of the famous George Orwell quote

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