The BBC rehired Martin Bashir despite the deception over his Princess Diana interview after an executive said he was desperate to win awards, a senior source says.
And Bashir is still earning up to £2,000 a week from taxpayers despite plunging the broadcaster into its biggest crisis for decades, it has emerged.
The BBC accepted his resignation rather than sacking him, meaning he is believed to be drawing his £100,000-a-year salary until his three-month notice period ends in July.
Jonathan Munro, the deputy director of news, was identified by senior BBC insiders as the primary force behind rehiring Bashir in 2016, The Times reports.