Under fire: Alan Yentob, pictured with Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh, is facing fresh calls to quit his £330,000 job at the BBC

BBC creative director Alan Yentob faced fresh calls last night to quit his £330,000 job as concern grew over his ‘hysterical’ threats made on behalf of Kids Company.

Mr Yentob, who chaired the failed charity, had told Cabinet ministers parts of Britain would ‘descend into savagery’ if they did not approve a £3million grant. He also intervened in BBC coverage of the charity three times.

Last night, the former head of the BBC Trust even cited the Jimmy Savile scandal, suggesting individual employees within the BBC should not try to deter legitimate investigations.

Sir Michael Lyons told The Daily Telegraph: ‘One might have expected the senior management of the BBC to have learnt the lessons after Savile.

‘It ought to be written in stone at the BBC that you do not try to discourage journalists going about their inquiries.’

Conservative MP Andrew Percy yesterday said Mr Yentob’s behaviour was ‘wholly unacceptable’ and he should review his position.

‘If this was big business lobbying behind the scenes to get money for their friends, BBC journalists would be crawling all over it,’ he said.

His position was echoed by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who said the email was ‘clearly intended to extract further taxpayers’ money for Kids Company’.

He also warned that the extraordinary outburst will tarnish his reputation as he negotiates with the Government over the broadcaster’s next charter.

Mr Bridgen said: ‘At the end of the day, the BBC know that Mr Yentob will play a major part in the forthcoming charter renewal negotiations, and I think it is up to the BBC to decide whether they want to have him fronting those negotiations, or whether he has been discredited by his poor judgement with Kids Company.’

It emerged yesterday that Mr Yentob had signed an email warning government ministers that its sudden closure could lead communities to 'descend into savagery'.

The message was sent on June 2 from the email account of Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh.

It was sent to the Cabinet Office as the troubled charity – set up to help vulnerable children – was trying to negotiate more state funding in the weeks before its collapse. Government officials agreed to release the funds a short time later.

The email warned of an increased risk of starvation and modern-day slavery unless the charity was saved.

Mr Yentob, who chaired the failed charity, told Cabinet ministers parts of Britain would ‘descend into savagery’ if they did not approve a £3million grant. He also intervened in BBC coverage of the charity three times

Referring to the intervention of Mr Yentob (right), Sir Michael Lyons (left), former head of the BBC Trust, said it ought to be 'written in stone at the BBC that you do not try to discourage journalists going about their inquiries’

After explaining the potential trauma for clients, the message also listed ‘risks posed to the public’ including looting, rioting and arson attacks on government buildings.

The same section also noted ‘increases’ in knife and gun crime, neglect, starvation and modern-day slavery as possible dangers.

The email formed the basis of an arranged meeting between Southwark and Lambeth councils which was attended by Mr Yentob.

It was signed by Mr Yentob but it is understood it was a collaborative Kids Company effort.

Yesterday, the leader of Southwark council Peter John called on Mr Yentob to explain himself in the wake of the storm his comments have generated.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think it’s pretty extraordinary language and pretty hyperbolic, and I think fairly insulting actually to the people of our borough. I simply don’t recognise these risks arising out of the failure of Kids Company.'

Yesterday, Southwark council's leader Peter John (pictured) condemned Mr Yentob's 'hyperbolic' comments

Politicians and campaigners accused Mr Yentob of trying to hold ‘the Government to ransom’ (file picture of Ms Batmanghelidjh with David Cameron in Downing Street in 2010)

Mr John added that he did not think the warnings were a 'realistic risk' arising from the collapse of Kids Company.

Yesterday, Mr Yentob said the document was 'an appendix written by the Safeguarding Team, who set out all the potential risks to be taken into account in the event of closure'.

He added: 'Despite the support of local authorities, many of those who received support and refuge from Kids Company remain at risk. The welfare and safety of both the young people and the communities in which they live continues to be of great concern.'

One might have expected the senior management of the BBC to have learnt the lessons after Savile Sir Michael Lyons

Mr Yentob is already under scrutiny for his role in the affair and is likely to be questioned by MPs as part of an inquiry into the issue.

The TV executive already angered BBC staff after he intervened in its coverage of the charity on three occasions.

A senior BBC insider said last night: ‘In any other organisation, Alan Yentob would have been suspended pending investigation over the serious conflict of interests involving him which emerged a few weeks ago, when it was reported he had been meddling in the BBC’s coverage of the Kids Company scandal.

'The fact that Alan has not been suspended makes [director-general] Tony Hall appear very weak.’

Mr Yentob has admitted intervening but denies doing anything wrong.

Kids Company collapsed earlier this month after the police opened an investigation into alleged sex abuse and the Government said it wanted to pull back the £3million in funding.