The BBC director-general George Entwistle has officially resigned form the BBC following the gravely incorrect pedophile story aired on BBC 2's Newsnight programme earlier this month.

Entwistle, who had worked for the BBC for 23 years prior to his stepping down, described his resignation as "the honourable thing to do" following the scandal. In his official statement in regards to his resignation, Entwistle took on full responsibility for the incident, what he called: "unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2nd November."

His resignation letter also outlines that he strongly believes that the appointment of a new head of broadcasting is essential for the BBC, although reiterated that despite the unsavoury ending to his short time as director-general, his time at the post was a "great honour" to him.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show earlier today, the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, said that he accepts the resignation and lamented that it was his "saddest day" in the job. Lord Patten went on to call for a "radical structural overhaul" of the BBC following the scandal, as he plans to reinstate the dignity of the broadcasting corporation and return it to the level of journalistic excellence the BBC has been known for throughout its history.