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Children in Need

The chair of BBC Children in Need has resigned shortly after starting the role following he was found guilty of negligent driving for crashing into a bike rider.

Terry Duddy's BMW knocked a woman from her bicycle as he turned right on High Street, Chalfont St Giles, the county on 21 June.

The elderly man admitted inflicting severe harm by negligent and reckless driving at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on November 13 and was handed an eight-month sentence, deferred for a year and a half.

The charity stated Duddy, who was named as chair on October 21, had resigned, saying "he was unable to remain in this role".

The court also banned the defendant from driving or getting a license for 18 months, charged him £85 in fees along with a £175 victim fee.

He will also have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the coming year.

Thames Valley Police shared details and footage of the collision with the woman, who was aged in her fifties, to its Facebook page.

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

The charity released a announcement after the court ruling.

It stated: "On Tuesday 18 November, our recently appointed chairman Terry Duddy notified us that he had been found guilty recently of causing serious injury through careless driving."

"In light of this he submitted his resignation, which the board approved, agreeing he was unable to remain in this role."

The charity announced James Fairclough, a board member since 2021, would be succeeding the former chairman having officially named chairman "starting immediately".

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

When he was appointed to the role, the charity said he brought "extensive management and guidance expertise in both the charity and business industries, along with a firm dedication to aiding youth development".

He was a trustee of the London Marathon Foundation, chairman of London Marathon Events and chairman of the non-profit Catch 22.

He has formerly occupied senior commercial roles, such as chief executive of Home Retail Group Plc.

The charity is the designated non-profit of the broadcaster and last week it collected over £45 million to help youth across the UK.