BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey has officially left the broadcaster as of August 3, 2026, following allegations regarding his former career as editor-in-chief of David Sullivan’s Sport newspapers. The 62-year-old broadcaster had stepped away from his late-night show in June amid a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation.
The departure of Tony Livesey marks the end of a 16-year tenure at 5 Live, where he had become one of the station’s most recognizable voices. His exit follows a period of absence that began on June 8, when he stepped back from his weekday late-night talk show to allow management to examine matters raised by a BBC Panorama investigation into his former boss, David Sullivan.
The Panorama Investigation and David Sullivan Allegations
The catalyst for Livesey’s departure was a joint investigation by the BBC and The Times, titled Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss
. The report detailed accounts from seven women who accused Sullivan, a billionaire and co-owner of West Ham United, of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour over several decades. These allegations date back to the 1980s and 1990s, during the period Sullivan owned the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport tabloid newspapers.
Sullivan, 77, has categorically denied all complaints. However, the fallout led to his resignation as a director and co-chair of West Ham United on June 6, a move he stated was intended to allow him to fight what he described as false allegations.
The investigation specifically implicated Livesey due to his role as editor-in-chief of the Sport titles. One woman, identified as Florence
, alleged that Livesey had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999. She described an unwanted sexual encounter with Sullivan that took place during that meeting.
Livesey’s Defense and the ‘Countdown to 16’ Controversy
Livesey has pushed back against the claims that he facilitated Sullivan’s predatory behavior. He stated he had no recollection
of introducing the woman to Sullivan and insisted that doing so was not part
of his job. While expressing great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim
, he rejected any suggestion that he played any role in the scenario, describing the allegation as abhorrent
.
Further scrutiny fell on a 1998 book written by Livesey. The text included a passage suggesting that he and Sullivan had devised a “countdown to 16” feature, which tracked models’ 16th birthdays to coincide with when they could legally be pictured topless. Livesey has since claimed the feature was categorically
not his idea and asserted that large portions of the book were fictionalised
to make him appear as the center of the stories.
A 16-Year Legacy at BBC Radio 5 Live
Despite the recent controversy, Livesey’s impact on 5 Live was significant. He joined the BBC in 2006—the same year he left the Sport newspapers—and began presenting on 5 Live in 2010. According to controller Heidi Dawson, Livesey was the first voice for us on air
during the station’s launch from its Salford home.
His career at the station was defined by versatility, ranging from late-night talk to high-profile event coverage. He spent 10 years as the voice of the Drive show, where he led reporting on Brexit and covered the London and Paris Olympics, as well as six years of Wimbledon coverage. He also reported from RAF Akrotiri and the Falkland Islands.
Livesey was also recognized for his more personal, award-winning journalism. He received ARIAS and APA awards for reporting on the experience of losing a mother as a child. Notably, he was chosen by the late Dame Deborah James to conduct her final interview before her death in 2022, for which he earned an ARIAS Gold award.
The Final Decision to Depart
The transition from a temporary break to a permanent exit was confirmed in an email to staff on Monday morning. Heidi Dawson informed colleagues that Livesey had now decided to leave his presenting role.
“Tony has asked me to pass on his heartfelt thanks to the brilliant colleagues at 5 Live who he has had the pleasure of working with over the years. I know many of you have also really enjoyed working with Tony, and we wish him well for all his future endeavours.”
Heidi Dawson, Controller of 5 Live
This development effectively closes a chapter for 5 Live that spanned over a decade and a half. While the BBC did not comment on the specific conclusions of its internal investigation into the Panorama claims, the decision for Livesey to leave follows nearly two months of absence from his 10pm to 1am slot.
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