Influencer

More from Alan Yentob's evidence at the hearing in which the Insolvency Service is seeking to have him banned as a director, after the collapse of charity, Kids Company. The Times reports that he was asked about his appearance in the Today studio control room, as Camila Batmanghelidjh was being interviewed, at the height of the charity's financial crisis. 

"I heard that Camila was going to be on the Today programme. She had been asked to be on the Today programme, I think. I heard from the Today programme, who were quite keen that I did appear on it. But I didn’t. I did say as chair I would be there when Camila was there.”

Asked about a BBC investigation into whether the former BBC creative director and BBC One Controller had attempted to interfere in the coverage, he said: “The outcome of that was that I had not. This was a stressful, difficult time for the charity’s future. I thought if I were around, Camila would be temperate."

“Jim Naughtie [the presenter] said [my presence] made no impact on him. I didn’t interfere with the BBC’s processes.”

[Echoes of Princess Diana's reported letter to the BBC, saying 'documents' hadn't twisted her arm into giving Martin Bashir an interview ?]