Richard Sharp is under renewed pressure to resign as BBC chairman.
Jonathan Dimbleby and Baroness Wheatcroft have joined a growing chorus of critics of his stance.
Mr Sharp is under fire for his role in arranging an £800,000 loan for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
According to an MPs’ committee, Mr Sharp made “significant errors of judgment” in applying for the BBC job. He maintains that he was hired on merit.
On Monday, Rishi Sunak refused to say whether he trusted Mr Sharp, instead saying he would wait for the results of an inquiry ordered by the commissioner for public appointments.
When asked directly if the prime minister had confidence in Mr Sharp, Mr Sunak’s official spokesperson said, “Yes, we are confident the process was followed,” adding, “But there is a review into this process, and we will look at that carefully.”
Mr Dimbleby, a veteran BBC broadcaster, told BBC Newsnight, “What [Mr Sharp] should do honorably is fall on his sword.”
“I have no doubt that he was appointed on merit based on the facts available,” he said. “It’s all about transparency and accountability.”