BBC director who quit over WMD flap to write book

A British Broadcasting Corp. executive who resigned after a judicial inquiry sharply criticized the network’s editorial standards under his leadership has signed a book deal to tell his side of the story.

Greg Dyke, the former BBC director-general, will give his account of the bitter row that developed over a network story that claimed that the government had “sexed up” an intelligence dossier about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction to strengthen its case for war.

The Hutton inquiry recently dismissed last year’s BBC news report as inaccurate and criticized the management of the BBC for failing to check it thoroughly for errors after the government bitterly disputed its accuracy.

The BBC, funded by a license fee paid by television viewers, is facing a review of its charter that could end its current system of self-governance. The BBC’s private-sector competitors have long argued it should fall under the oversight of a communications regulator.

Since resigning last week under pressure from the BBC’s board of governors, Dyke has criticized the Hutton inquiry as one-sided in favor of the government.

Dyke’s book, to be published in September, will cover his four-year tenure at the BBC.

“This is a terrific acquisition for us,” HarperCollins chief executive officer Victoria Barnsley said Friday.

“I have huge admiration for the way Greg Dyke has transformed the BBC over the past four years, and his account of this period will undoubtedly be fascinating and controversial.”

Dyke’s resignation has been protested by hundreds of BBC workers, who want him back, and he recently said he would love to return to his job if asked.

“Obviously, in certain circumstances, if I was asked to go back, of course, I would go back. But I think it’s very unlikely,” he said.

Financial details of the book deal were not disclosed.