What's happened
Shawcross has delegated his powers to an independent person to investigate whether the rules were properly followed in Sharp's appointment.
Why it matters
Sharp's appointment has been controversial due to reports that he helped then-prime minister Boris Johnson secure a loan facility of up to £800,000 shortly before being appointed to the post. The investigation aims to determine whether the rules were properly followed in Sharp's appointment.
What the papers say
The Independent and Sky News report on Shawcross's recusal from the investigation, while The Independent also reports on Shawcross's original plan to conduct an inquiry into Sharp's appointment. The articles are consistent in their reporting of the events.
How we got here
Sharp was appointed to the top BBC role in 2021 after a recommendation by Johnson when he was prime minister. In late 2020, the Sunday Times claims Mr Sharp was involved in arranging a guarantor on a loan of up to £800,000 for the then-PM.
More on these topics
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Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson Hon FRIBA is a British politician, writer, and former journalist serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2019.
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Richard Simon Sharp is the current Chairman of the BBC, a role he has held since February 2021. A former banker, he worked at JP Morgan for eight years, and then for 23 years at Goldman Sachs.
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William Hartley Hume Shawcross, CVO is a British writer and commentator, and the former Chairman of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
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The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London, it is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees.