Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held urgent talks with the BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, after a presenter was accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos. The BBC assured Frazer that they were swiftly and sensitively investigating the claims. The identity of the presenter has not been revealed for legal reasons, and it is unclear if there has been a formal suspension.
According to the Sun on Sunday, the mother of the teenager involved claimed that her child had used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit and warned that they would “wind up dead” if the alleged payments continued. The mother also alleged that an explicit image of the presenter in his underwear had been taken during a video call with her child.
The family initially raised concerns with the BBC on May 19, but when the presenter remained on air, they decided to approach the Sun. The family reportedly did not accept payment for their story.
Following the publication of the story, several BBC presenters, including Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine, Nicky Campbell, and Gary Lineker, took to social media to deny being the presenter in question. Nicky Campbell reported an anonymous Twitter account to the police over a post claiming he was involved.
Politicians have called on the BBC to address the situation. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves urged the corporation to “get its house in order,” while Conservative Minister Victoria Atkins called for swift action. Reeves criticized the BBC’s handling of the situation, expressing concern that the presenter remained on air for weeks after the initial complaint was made. Atkins emphasized the emotional impact on the young person involved and urged consideration for their feelings in discussions and reporting on the matter.
Stewart Purvis, a broadcasting veteran and former Head of ITN, warned that the saga could harm the BBC’s reputation as the “nation’s broadcaster of trust.” He emphasized the need for the BBC to involve professionals experienced in dealing with such situations in their response.
The BBC’s press office has stated that they take all allegations seriously and have processes in place to investigate them. They actively seek further details and understanding of the situation and continue their inquiries even if they do not receive a response from those who initially contacted them. BBC News reports impartially on the corporation and does not have privileged information about it before other news outlets.
As the investigation continues, no further comments have been made by the BBC, but BBC News has requested an update from the press office.