The UK’s publicly funded nationwide broadcaster was scrambling to go off a worsening disaster after The Sun newspaper reported allegations the male presenter gave a youth £35,000 ($67,000) beginning in 2020 when the younger particular person was 17.
Neither the star nor the youth was recognized. Amid hypothesis on social media concerning the id of the presenter, a number of of the BBC’s best-known stars spoke as much as say it wasn’t them.
Though the age of sexual consent in Britain is 16, it is a crime to make or possess indecent pictures of anybody below 18.
The Sun stated the younger particular person’s mom had complained to the BBC in May however that the presenter had remained on the air.
The BBC stated in an announcement on Sunday that it “first became aware of a complaint in May” however that “new allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature”.
“The BBC takes any allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations,” the broadcaster stated.
It stated the company had additionally been in contact with “external authorities” however didn’t specify whether or not that was the police.
“This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps,” the BBC stated.
“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held disaster talks with the broadcaster’s director-general about what she known as “deeply concerning” allegations. She stated Director General Tim Davie had assured her the BBC was “investigating swiftly and sensitively”.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is now given the space to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action. I will be kept updated,” she wrote on social media.
Rachel Reeves, economic system spokeswoman for the opposition Labour Party, stated the BBC wanted to “speed up their processes” and “get their house in order.”
Commercial UK broadcaster ITV not too long ago confronted its personal scandal after Phillip Schofield, a long-time host on the channel’s in style morning present, stop in May, admitting he had lied about an affair with a a lot youthful colleague.
ITV executives had been summoned to Parliament to reply questions on whether or not the broadcaster had a “toxic” work tradition and had coated up misconduct by stars.
The BBC faces larger scrutiny than different broadcasters as a result of it’s taxpayer-funded and dedicated to remaining neutral in its news protection.
It was engulfed in a storm over free speech and political bias in March when its main sports activities presenter, former England soccer participant Gary Lineker, criticised the federal government’s immigration coverage on social media.
Lineker was suspended — after which restored after different sports activities presenters, analysts and Premier League gamers boycotted the BBC airwaves in solidarity.
Source: www.9news.com.au
