BBC director of news 'steps aside'

Nov 12 2012

The BBC's director of news Helen Boaden and her deputy Stephen Mitchell have stepped aside, according to reports.

Their apparent departures from their posts come ahead of a report into the Newsnight programme which mistakenly implicated Lord McAlpine in a sex abuse scandal which is due to be published.

It follows the resignation of the BBC director general George Entwistle on Saturday which has left the embattled corporation in crisis, amid calls for BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten to follow suit.

The BBC said it would not comment on any move for Ms Boaden and Mr Mitchell this morning.