'Not easy to get rid of executives' - Sir Michael Lyons

Paying senior executives substantial severance deals was necessary, the former chairman of the BBC Trust has told MPs.

Sir Michael Lyons defended the pay-offs received by former BBC bosses, and said it was "not easy" to bring the number of executives and their wages down.

Sir Michael conceded that the amount of money handed over was "eye-watering", but believed that it saved the BBC cash in the long-term.

Sir Michael Lyons: "It is not easy to make reductions in senior management"