There are few friends left inside the BBC for its former director-general Tony Hall. His reputation among staff has “taken a hammering”, says one well-known broadcaster. A senior producer describes himself as “hugely disappointed” that Hall failed to do the right thing in his investigation into how Martin Bashir secured his scoop interview with Princess Diana in 1995, and that the BBC “trashed the career of the most junior person involved”. Another adds that staff are “incensed” that Bashir was rehired in 2016 as the BBC’s religious affairs correspondent given what Hall knew about his past. “It all contributes to the general loss of confidence around the place,” says one thoughtful insider. “Are people as proud to work for the BBC as they were ten years ago? I doubt it.” A former editor puts it starkly: “When your entire reputation, and self-image, is built on trust, it could not be more serious.”