The former Pepsi Cola marketing man dramatically placed in temporary charge of the BBC will today have to decide on whether to authorise a new round of blood letting – with a host of senior managers facing the axe.

Tim Davie, 45, has been handed a report into Newsnight’s botched investigation that wrongly linked a senior politician to child abuse allegations in North Wales.

Up to six senior staff members could be jettisoned in the wake of director general George Entwistle’s sudden departure over the November 2 programme.