New boss for TV channel after bullying claims

Welsh language TV channel S4C has appointed a new chief executive after bullying allegations led to the sacking of its previous boss and a senior executive.

Geraint Evans, the channel's interim chief content officer after Llinos Griffin-Williams resigned from that role last October, joined S4C in 2019 and was previously responsible for developing its digital strategy.

He was also the broadcaster's acting chief executive for six months of the past year after Siân Doyle was sacked last November.

Ms Doyle was sacked after being accused of bullying and behaving like a dictator, and Ms Griffin-Williams left after allegedly telling ex-rugby star Mike Phillips his Welsh skills were not good enough.

Before joining the channel, Mr Evans was a journalist with ITV Cymru Wales for 25 years.

Guto Bebb, the interim chairman of S4C, said the board's decision to appoint him was unanimous.

"As the director who has led the digital development of the channel, he has a clear vision of the path that S4C needs to take in order to ensure a prosperous future," he said.

Mr Evans said S4C had a "key role to play in enabling people to live their lives through the Welsh language, to attract new speakers and to maintain Welsh as a living and relevant language".

Cardiff law firm Capital Law spoke to 92 people who gave evidence about the atmosphere and working environment at S4C for a report which was published in December 2023.

Participants reported that Ms Doyle's leadership style was "dictatorial creating a culture of fear".

Allegations of abusive and bad language quoted in the report, and attributed to Ms Doyle, include disparaging comments about colleagues and S4C presenters.

Ms Doyle has said she did not "recognise or accept the allegations made".