The chair of the BBC Children in Need charity has quit over grants awarded to an LGBT organisation hit by child sex abuse scandals.
Rosie Millard, 59, accused the charity of “institutional failure” in a letter, seen by The Times, announcing she would step down after six years.
The writer and broadcaster criticised its chief executive Simon Antrobus for his response to revelations that £466,000 was awarded in grants to LGBT Youth Scotland, which supports gay and transgender people aged 13 to 25.
Children in Need started giving the charity grants seven months after James Rennie, the then chief executive of LGBTYS, was convicted of child sex assaults in 2009.
This year Andrew Easton, who co-authored schools guidance for LGBTYS, was convicted of sharing indecent images of children including newborn babies.
‘That they could write this is astonishing’
The grants to LGBTYS were only suspended in May after Ms Millard said she alerted them to the 2009 case, and, following a review, funding was withdrawn three months later.
She said Mr Antrobus did not respond with the “necessary level of seriousness”, claimed he only cut the funding out of fear of negative publicity and alleged that, on hearing about the abuse, he had said it ruined his enjoyment of a Bruce Springsteen concert.
Ms Millard also alleged that another Children in Need employee had suggested a victim was “out to get” LGBTYS.
She said in the letter: “That they could write this about the reported rape of a child is astonishing.”
In a statement on Wednesday night she said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Chair of BBC Children in Need.
“Witnessing the incredible impact of our supporters’ generosity on the lives of children and young people has been truly inspiring. I’m immensely proud of the collective achievements we’ve made together.”