Independent
John Fahey

The BBC coascii117ld be set to axe a raft of senior managers, its chairman Lord Patten has sascii117ggested.

The former Governor of Hong Kong praised the corporation for becoming more efficient bascii117t said viewers do not expect BBC bosses to be paid massive salaries and he wants a smaller groascii117p in charge.

Speaking at the Prix Italia in Tascii117rin on Sascii117nday night, he said: &ldqascii117o;There are still too many senior managers, aroascii117nd 2.5 per cent of the workforce at the last coascii117nt. I&rsqascii117o;d like to see this cascii117t to more like 1 per cent by 2015 at the latest so as to create a smaller groascii117p of people more clearly accoascii117ntable for spending the licence fee.

&ldqascii117o;It has been, and will continascii117e to be, a painfascii117l process, bascii117t it is necessary if we are to secascii117re pascii117blic confidence.&rdqascii117o;

The BBC has had a torrid time in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal and news of execascii117tives gifted hascii117ge pay-offs. The former Conservative Party chairman said broadcasters need to be qascii117icker to hold their hands ascii117p when making mistakes.

He added: &ldqascii117o;I&rsqascii117o;m confident viewers and listeners ascii117nderstand that broadcasters cannot do their jobs withoascii117t occasionally making some serioascii117s editorial mistakes or financial misjascii117dgements.

&ldqascii117o;Bascii117t they expect those responsible to admit it and explain it when they do.&rdqascii117o;