The newly appointed chairman of BBC Children in Need has resigned from his post after being convicted of causing serious injury by careless driving, following a collision that sent a female cyclist flying into the air.
Shocking Incident Captured on CCTV
Terry Duddy, who had only been in the role for 11 days after starting on October 21, was driving his black BMW SUV in the upmarket village of Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, in June when the incident occurred. Shocking CCTV footage released by Thames Valley Police shows Duddy turning at a junction and failing to stop for a cyclist who had the right of way.
The footage captures the moment the car ploughs into the woman, who is in her 50s, throwing her into the air before she falls to the ground. Other cyclists at the scene rushed to her aid. The woman was reported to have been seriously injured in the collision.
Legal Consequences and Immediate Resignation
Duddy was convicted of causing serious injury by careless driving. The court handed down an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay costs totalling £272, and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Following his conviction, Duddy informed the charity of the outcome on Tuesday, November 18, and subsequently offered his resignation, which the board accepted.
In an email to staff, the outgoing chief executive, Simon Antrobus, confirmed Duddy's departure. A spokesperson for BBC Children in Need stated: "In light of this he offered his resignation, which the board accepted, agreeing he could not continue in this role."
Leadership Change and Broader BBC Challenges
James Fairclough, a trustee since 2021, has been formally appointed as the new chair with immediate effect. The charity affirmed that its focus remains on "helping children and young people thrive."
This incident deals a fresh blow to the BBC, which has faced a string of recent controversies. These include legal threats from Donald Trump over a edited Panorama programme, which led to the departure of Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness. BBC chairman Samir Shah has since stated the corporation is "determined to fight" the potential lawsuit.
