BBC Children in Need chairman resigns after cyclist crash
Shocking footage shows the moment BBC Children in Need chair crashed into a cyclist, forcing his resignation after just 11 days in the job.
This is the horror moment the newly-appointed chair of Children in Need ploughs into a cyclist with his car — as he is forced to resign.
Terry Duddy, 69, was appointed to his new role at the BBC just 11 days ago but has now stepped down after he was convicted of causing serious injury by careless driving.
It is the latest in a string of BBC resignations in recent weeks following scandal-hit Director Tim Davie, The Sun reported.
CCTV footage of the crash was released by Thames Valley Police after the female cyclist, believed to be in her 50s, was left badly hurt.
Duddy was driving a black BMW SUV when he cut across an oncoming lane and tried to turn right but instead ploughed into a cyclist who had right of way.
The shocking video shows the bike rider being thrown in the air and flipping over after being hit.
She was left lying across the road as fellow cyclists rushed over to help.
Duddy was handed an eight-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months on Thursday, 13 November and will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, according to Thames Valley Police.
He will also have to pay legal costs totalling £272 (AU $548) and serve an 18-month driving ban.
The crash took place back in June.
Duddy admitted to the BBC about the incident on Tuesday.
He quickly informed the charity that due to the repercussions he would have to resign from its chair.
The BBC board agreed with his decision.
James Fairclough, a Children in Need trustee since 2021, has been formally appointed Chair with immediate effect.
Duddy has also led major UK retailers including Argos and he is currently chair of welfare charity Catch22 and of London Marathon Events (LME).
In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Catch22 said: “We were notified yesterday by our Chair, Terry Duddy, of his conviction for careless driving causing serious injury.
“We are investigating the implications of this for his role at Catch22 and will provide a further update once this is complete.”
The move places more pressure on the BBC after a string of controversies in 2025.
BBC Director Tim Davie resigned from the Corporation earlier this month over its “deceptive editing” of a Donald Trump speech.
Mr Davie quit dramatically alongside the CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness following massive criticism against the broadcaster for deceiving viewers by how it spliced together footage of the US president.
A Panorama episode broadcast a week before last year’s US election spliced together different sections of a Trump speech to make it appear as if he was encouraging the Capitol Hill riot in 2021.
The fakery led viewers to see Mr Trump urge his supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” — instead of his actual call to protest peacefully.
BBC staff were reportedly left feeling “euphoric” following Davie’s exit with workers claiming he pandered to talent and didn’t deal with real issues.
This story originally appeared on The Sun and reproduced with permission
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Originally published as BBC Children in Need chairman resigns after cyclist crash
