🔗 Share this article

Children in Need

The chair of BBC Children in Need stepped down just days into the role following he was convicted of negligent driving for crashing into a bike rider.

Terry Duddy's BMW struck a female cyclist from her bicycle as he made a right turn on High Street, the Buckinghamshire village, the county on 21 June.

The 69-year-old pleaded guilty to inflicting severe harm by negligent and reckless driving at the local court on 13 November and was given an prison term, suspended for 18 months.

The charity confirmed the chairman, who was appointed as chair on 21 October, had resigned, saying "he was unable to remain in this role".

The court also banned Duddy from operating a vehicle or getting a license for 18 months, fined him £85 costs plus a £175 victim surcharge.

He will also have to carry out two hundred hours of community service in the next 12 months.

Thames Valley Police shared details and footage of the crash with the victim, who was in her 50s, to its Facebook page.

It added: "The cyclist had right of way and a brief lapse in attention from the driver, by not adequately ensuring the road was clear to cross, has had a life changing impact on the cyclist."

Children in Need issued a statement following the sentencing.

It said: "Last Tuesday, our recently appointed chairman Terry Duddy notified us that he had been found guilty last week of inflicting severe harm through careless driving."

"In light of this he offered his resignation, which the board approved, concluding he could not continue in this role."

The organization announced James Fairclough, a trustee since 2021, would be replacing the former chairman having officially named chair "with immediate effect".

"We remain focused on supporting the well-being of youth," it said.

When he was appointed to the position, the charity said he brought "a wealth of management and guidance experience in both the non-profit and business industries, combined with a firm dedication to aiding youth development".

He was a director of the the marathon charity, chair of the events organization and chairman of the non-profit Catch 22.

He has previously held senior commercial roles, such as CEO of Home Retail Group Plc.

The charity is the official charity of the BBC and last week it raised more than £45 million to help youth throughout the United Kingdom.