Terrence Duddy, the newly appointed chair of BBC’s Children in Need, has resigned just 11 days into the job following a serious driving conviction.
Suspended Sentence for Reckless Driving
The 69-year-old was handed an 18-month suspended sentence after his BMW hit a woman cyclist in her 50s in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. The crash, caught on CCTV, showed the cyclist thrown into the air before crashing onto the road, suffering life-changing injuries.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the cyclist had right of way and described the incident as “a moment of carelessness” with devastating consequences.
Heavy Penalties and Immediate Resignation
Duddy received an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £272, and faces an 18-month driving ban.
The shock resignation came swiftly, just 11 days after Duddy took the helm at Children in Need. The organisation confirmed it has accepted his resignation.
New Chair Takes Over
Trustee James Fairclough has been named as the new chair of BBC Children in Need, stepping up to steer the charity following Duddy’s departure.
