BBC presenter scandal – latest: Huw Edwards identified as star at centre of allegations

The wife of newsreader Huw Edwards has identified him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.

Vicky Flind said her husband was suffering from serious mental health issues and was now in hospital, “where he will stay for the foreseeable future”.

“As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years. The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters,” Ms Flind said.

The Metropolitan Police has said no criminal offence has been committed by the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.

It gives the green light for the corporation to resume its internal investigation into the star, accused of paying a young person around £35,000 for sexually explicit images.

There are now four separate allegations against Edwards, including breaking lockdown rules and sending threatening messages to a person in their early twenties whom he met on a dating app.

Key Points

• Former colleague to BBC presenter says TV star is ‘extremely angry’ over allegations

• Accused presenter hopes to walk back into the building, says Jeremy Vine

• Broadcasters and BBC staff call for unnamed presenter to come forward

• Second young person felt threatened by BBC presenter

• BBC ‘pauses’ investigation into presenter while police examine case

Huw Edwards identified as star

18:03 , Jane Dalton

Vicky Flind, the wife of news reader Huw Edwards, has named him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images in a statement issued on his behalf.

Huw Edwards named by wife as BBC star at centre of sex scandal

18:05 , Jane Dalton

Edwards has serious mental health issues, says wife

18:04 , Jane Dalton

In a statement released to the PA news agency, Vicky Flind, the wife of BBC news reader Huw Edwards said: “In light of the recent reporting regarding the ‘BBC Presenter’ I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

“Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.

“The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he’ll stay for the foreseeable future.

“Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.

“To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday.

“In the circumstances and given Huw’s condition, I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.”

Police drop investigation, saying ‘no offence committed’

17:54 , Jane Dalton

No criminal offence was committed by the BBC employee, the Metropolitan Police say they have concluded, dropping their probe.

“Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed,” the force said.

They said they had spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force.

“There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.”

They added: “We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.

“Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force.”

Police had asked the BBC to put its own investigation on hold while it carried out further “scoping”.

Jeremy Vine call strange, says Susanna Reid

15:55 , Jane Dalton

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid says Jeremy Vine’s call for the accused presenter to identify himself is odd.

She said: “Now we have a very high-profile presenter, Jeremy Vine, putting pressure on the unnamed presenter to come forward, which I think is a strange move for another presenter.”

Right that claims investigated quickly, says Rishi Sunak

15:34 , Jane Dalton

The prime minister says he was personally concerned by the claims against the BBC presenter and they should be investigated quickly.

Rishi Sunak said: “With regard to the BBC, I think, as you’ll be aware, the police have asked the BBC to suspend their inquiry whilst they do their assessment, and it is right that we let that continue.

“I personally was concerned by the allegations, they are serious and it’s right that they are investigated swiftly and rigorously.

“I’m glad that that’s happening and we should let that continue and conclude.”

He declined to comment when asked if the presenter should resign.

The new claims and questions explained

15:25 , Jane Dalton

Everything known and the unanswered questions surrounding the furore over the BBC presenter:

BBC presenter allegations: What are the new claims and the unanswered questions?

Accused presenter hopes to walk back into the building, says Jeremy Vine

14:50 , Jane Dalton

Presenter Jeremy Vine says the BBC presenter at the heart of the ongoing sex scandal is angry but “hopes he can one day walk back into the building”:

Jeremy Vine says accused BBC presenter ‘angry’ but ‘hopes to walk back into building’

Broadcasters must have ways of flagging claims, says Channel 4 boss

14:19 , Jane Dalton

A Channel 4 boss has said broadcasters needed to ensure procedures were in place that would quickly flag up issues such as the allegations facing the BBC.

Chief executive Alex Mahon was asked during the annual report press briefing whether the BBC had a duty of care to identify the presenter, to which she replied: “It doesn’t look easy does it.”

She added: “The key thing for us is to make sure that our procedures would flag something like that to us.

“We have a ‘speak up’ procedure that is on every call sheet that goes out on every production, and those instances are described to us as senior management, to me, within 24 hours, if something comes in.”

Channel 4 boss weighs in on duty of care debate amid BBC presenter allegations

Watch: Jeremy Vine urges presenter to come forward

13:30 , Jane Dalton

Jeremy Vine urges BBC presenter to come forward in opening monologue of show

‘Lessons to be learned’ by BBC- government minister says

12:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Government minister Victoria Atkins said this morning that there were “lessons to be learned” by the BBC in the handling of complaints against the unnamed presenter at the centre of a row over alleged payments for sexually explicit photos.

But the Treasury minister said the police scoping exercise and the BBC investigations must be allowed to run their course before the “post-mortem” can begin.

“Because the allegations are so serious, and we have always acknowledged this, we have to let these processes now go through,” she told Sky News.

“There will certainly be lessons to be learned for the BBC and I can understand why people may be asking questions at this point and I’m sure those questions will continue to be asked.”

BBC presenter scandal: All the allegations made against TV star so far

12:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A BBC presenter accused of paying for sexually explicit photos now faces four allegations against him.

A 23-year-old has claimed the unnamed presenter broke lockdown rules to meet them during the pandemic in February 2021, according to The Sun.

Separately, a 17-year-old has alleged they were following the star on Instagram when he messaged them, using love hearts and kisses, reported The Sun on Tuesday.

In a different set of allegations, BBC News reported on Tuesday that a person in their early 20s has claimed they were sent threatening messages by the unnamed man.

It comes after The Sun alleged a young person was paid around £35,000 for sexually explicit images by the presenter, who has been suspended by the BBC.

All the allegations against BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images

BBC presenter scandal timeline as four claims made against household name

11:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The BBC is facing increased pressure after fresh claims emerged about an unnamed presenter who has been facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit photos.

Below we set out a timeline of how the story has developed over the last week:

BBC presenter scandal timeline as four claims made against household name

Jeremy Vine says BBC ‘behaved with extraordinary decency'

11:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Jeremy Vine defended the BBC, saying the corporation has “behaved with extraordinary decency” and he understands that if it sacks the presenter, it may not be able to “name” him.

On whether the person thinks they are above being held to account for their alleged actions, Vine said: “It may be more complicated than that, they may be in some sort of terrible crisis, unable to judge what’s right and what’s wrong any more, I don’t know.”

Even if the identity of the scandal-hit BBC presenter is never disclosed, the damage has already been done

11:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

How do you drag back into private something which has gone viral and become common knowledge? Media law expert David Banks explains the consequences:

We may not find out who the BBC presenter is – but the damage is done | David Banks

Former colleague to BBC presenter says TV star is ‘extremely angry’ over allegations

10:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A former colleague of the unnamed BBC presenter has said the broadcaster is “extremely angry” over the allegations after he was accused of sending a teenager thousands in exchange for explicit photos.

Jon Sopel, a former BBC correspondent, told The News Agent podcast: “A number of people have been in touch with the presenter to say they feel righteous fury over the way The Sun has covered this and it is fair to say that the presenter at the heart of this is also extremely angry over a lot of The Sun coverage and is convinced they’re trying to dig and find new dirt to harm this particular person’s reputation.”

Since the first accusation emerged on Saturday, three more allegations have surfaced, including claims the presenter broke lockdown rules and sent threatening messages to a person in their early twenties who he met on a dating app.

Jeremy Vine says BBC presenter ‘will have to answer’ allegations against him

10:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Jeremy Vine said the unnamed BBC presenter “will have to answer” the allegations against him, suggesting the man will not be able to “remain anonymous for ever” while continuing to work for the broadcaster.

Vine - who also hosts an afternoon show on BBC Radio 2 - said on his Channel 5 show: “I think it’s better for him if he does, I think he needs to.

“He will have to answer this, and what’s happening is all this stuff is aggregating with no response.

“Now, he must have a defence, he must have one. Maybe he’s going to say it’s all a misunderstanding? Well I assume it.

“But the idea that he can just remain anonymous for ever and then one day walk back into the building with his ID pass, oh no, that’s not going to happen.”

Vine, who was among a number of BBC stars who have publicly denied being the accused presenter, said: “I had a situation: I was going to see Bruce Springsteen at the weekend and my wife said, ‘are you going to be safe there?’

“That’s how serious this thing is, and she gave me a baseball cap and said ‘you better wear this’.”

What are the allegations against the BBC presenter?

10:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

There are now four separate allegations against the BBC presenter.

The first allegation accused the presenter of paying a teenager thousands of pounds in exchange for explicit photos.

The second allegation surfaced on Tuesday when a young person in their early 20s claimed they felt threatened by messages they received from the BBC presenter.

Speaking to BBC News, the individual in their early 20s said they were first contacted anonymously by the male presenter on a dating app.

When the young person hinted online they might name the presenter, they claim they were sent abusive messages and became frightened by the ‘threats’ made in the messages.

The unnamed TV star was also accused of breaking lockdown rules to meet the person. The Sun claimed the presenter visited the person he met online and sent cash to them, with the paper further alleging he travelled out of London in February 2021 to meet them.

The Sun reported a fourth allegation against the presenter on Tuesday evening. An individual claimed the TV personality messaged them on Instagram when the individual was 17-years-old.

The presenter allegedly messaged the teenager with heart emojis despite the two having no prior contact.

Jeremy Vine says unnamed BBC presenter ‘needs to come forward'

09:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Jeremy Vine has said the unnamed presenter at the heart of the BBC scandal “needs to come forward”.

Speaking on his Channel 5 show, Vine - who also hosts an afternoon show on BBC Radio 2 - said: “It’s his decision but he needs to come forward now, I think.

“I know his survival instinct has kicked in and I know he saw what happened to Phillip Schofield, but my God look at the damage to the BBC, look at the damage to his friends, to those falsely accused - and the longer he leaves it the worse it will be for him.”

Vine said he thought “very carefully” before posting his tweet on Tuesday night urging the unnamed presenter to reveal himself, adding: “I know the individual concerned. I am very worried about his state of mind and what this is doing to him.

“I haven’t spoken to him but I gather from somebody who has that he is described as angry and keen to play it long.

“Now to me that means that he wants to be anonymous for as long as possible hoping that he can one day walk back into the building.”

Lisa Nandy says politicians should not try to ‘out’ the BBC presenter

09:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Shadow minister Lisa Nandy said politicians should not try to “out” the BBC presenter at the centre of the scandal.

The Labour frontbencher acknowledged there would be less risk of people speculating about other personalities if the individual identified himself, but said that is “a matter for the individual concerned”.

She told Sky News: “I don’t think it’s right for politicians to start trying to out an individual. I don’t think it’s helpful for the public to be speculating about, either.

“It’s a question for the individual concerned, it’s not a matter for me... It is hurting others but what’s hurting others most of all is the constant speculation about the identity.

“There’s a number of people who have ended up in the firing line over the weekend. I just urge people to stop doing that.”

Presenter Kay Burley suggested “an easy way to fix that” is for the individual to come forward, to which Ms Nandy responded: “That’s true, but it is a question for the individual concerned.”

Victoria Atkins pushed on whether BBC presenter should identify himself

08:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Government minister Victoria Atkins was pushed on whether the BBC presenter should identify himself after a number of stars at the broadcaster felt forced to deny being the person at the centre of the scandal.

The Treasury minister told Sky News the situation had been exacerbated by the use of social media to name people suspected of involvement: “There is this real problem, that I think we as a society have to face, as to the impact on innocent people when allegations of this sort are made and people try to work out who is at the centre of the allegations.”

Pushed on whether the presenter should identify himself to end that speculation, she said: “I’m not going to comment on an individual, the duties or responsibilities of them to name themselves.”

But she said there was a role for social media firms “to see what they are doing and checking on their platforms”.

And she said MPs should be “very careful” about using parliamentary privilege to identify the presenter, saying they had to remember the “huge responsibility” they have.

BBC star ‘sent abusive messages’ to second young person after contact on dating app

08:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A person in their early twenties has said they felt threatened by “expletive-filled” messages from the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos as the scandal surrounding the corporation deepens.

The fresh shock allegations, reported by the BBC, add further pressure on the broadcaster as it reels from the fallout from separate claims made against the unnamed male presenter and first reported by The Sun.

The individual in their early twenties – who has no connection to the person at the centre of The Sun’s story – met the male presenter on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms, according to the BBC.

The presenter revealed his identity and asked the young person not to tell anyone. The young person later posted online alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they might name him.

Adam Forrest reports:

TV star sent ‘abusive messages’ to second young person after contact on dating app

MPs should be ‘very careful’ about using Parliamentary privilege to name presenter

08:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Government minister Victoria Atkins said MPs should be “very careful” about using parliamentary privilege to identify the presenter, saying they had to remember the “huge responsibility” they have.

Ms Atkins was pushed on whether the BBC presenter should identify himself after a number of stars at the broadcaster felt forced to deny being the person at the centre of the scandal.

The Treasury minister told Sky News the situation had been exacerbated by the use of social media to name people suspected of involvement: “There is this real problem, that I think we as a society have to face, as to the impact on innocent people when allegations of this sort are made and people try to work out who is at the centre of the allegations.”

Pushed on whether the presenter should identify himself to end that speculation, she said: “I’m not going to comment on an individual, the duties or responsibilities of them to name themselves.”

But she said there was a role for social media firms “to see what they are doing and checking on their platforms”.

Watch: Government ‘must not’ interfere in police investigation on BBC presenter, minister says

08:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Treasury minister, Victoria Atkins, has said the government “must not” interfere in police investigation on the unnamed BBC presenter.

‘Lessons to be learned’ by BBC, Treasury minister says

07:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Government minister Victoria Atkins said there were “lessons to be learned” by the BBC in the handling of complaints against the unnamed presenter at the centre of a row over alleged payments for sexually explicit photos.

But the Treasury minister said the police scoping exercise and the BBC investigations must be allowed to run their course before the “post-mortem” can begin.

“Because the allegations are so serious, and we have always acknowledged this, we have to let these processes now go through,” she told Sky News.

“There will certainly be lessons to be learned for the BBC and I can understand why people may be asking questions at this point and I’m sure those questions will continue to be asked.”

BBC faces increased pressure after fresh allegations about presenter

07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The BBC is facing increased pressure after fresh claims emerged about an unnamed presenter who has been facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit photos.

BBC News reported yesterday that a person in their early 20s has alleged that they were sent threatening messages by the unnamed man.

They appear to be separate to a young person who The Sun claims was paid around £35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for sexually explicit images by the presenter, who has been suspended by the BBC.

The second young person reportedly told The Sun that the star “was always asking to meet and I found it quite pressurising. There were restrictions and they kept getting stricter but he constantly asked”.

Read the full story here:

Voices: The BBC presenter scandal – and the cracks in The Sun’s story

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

There are so many question marks about The Sun’s journalism that it risks ending up making them look far worse than the presenter at the centre of the explicit images allegations, whose private life is their own affair if no laws have been broken, writes Sean O’Grady:

The BBC presenter scandal – and the cracks in The Sun’s story | Sean O’Grady

BBC presenter scandal: The claims and timeline of allegations

06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

On 10 July, the Met said it is carrying out further inquiries to establish whether any crime has been committed after BBC representatives met with detectives virtually.

A lawyer representing the young person said the claims in the “inappropriate article” are “rubbish”.

In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via the lawyer: “For the avoidance of doubt, nothing inappropriate or unlawful has taken place between our client and the BBC personality and the allegations reported in The Sun newspaper are ‘rubbish’.”

Here’s the timeline of allegations:

Timeline of allegations against BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images

ICYMI: Lawyer for young person at centre of BBC presenter sex case says ‘nothing inappropriate happened’

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The teenager at the centre of the BBC presenter scandal has said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed star accused of paying them £35,000 for sexually explicit images.

In another day of extraordinary drama, they said the allegations published in The Sun, were “rubbish”, in a letter issued by their lawyer to the broadcaster.

The claim comes hours after the Metropolitan Police confirmed “there is no investigation at this time” following a weekend of online speculation over the identity of the male star, believed to be a household name.

It’s understood BBC staff are furious at the broadcaster’s handling of the scandal, which prompted several of the corporation’s top talent to rush to declare their innocence and that the presenter, who was suspended on Sunday, is not minded to reveal their identity until the outcome of any police probe.

Holly Evans reports:

Lawyer for young person at centre of BBC presenter sex case says claims are ‘rubbish’

BBC star sent 'abusive messages' to second young person after contact on dating app – report

05:03 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A person in their early twenties has said they felt threatened by “expletive-filled” messages from the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos as the scandal surrounding the corporation deepens.

The fresh shock allegations, reported by the BBC, add further pressure on the broadcaster as it reels from the fallout from separate claims made against the unnamed male presenter and first reported by The Sun.

The individual in their early twenties – who has no connection to the person at the centre of The Sun’s story – met the male presenter on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms, according to the BBC.

Read the full story by Adam Forrest here:

TV star sent ‘abusive messages’ to second young person after contact on dating app

Fellow broadcasters and BBC staff call for unnamed presenter to come forward

04:36 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Jeremy Vine and Piers Morgan are among the high-profile figures who have called for the unnamed presenter at the heart of the BBC scandal to come forward publicly for the good of his colleagues at the corporation.

Fresh claims about the anonymous man emerged on Tuesday, following previous allegations over payments he had made for sexually explicit photos.

The Sun newspaper’s front page on Wednesday also reported that a 23-year-old person has claimed the presenter broke lockdown rules to meet them during the pandemic in February 2021.

Posting online on Tuesday, Vine said the latest allegations would result in “yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues” at the BBC.

Read the full story here:

Fellow broadcasters and BBC staff call for unnamed presenter to come forward

ICYMI: Piers Morgan blasts BBC for refusing to name presenter at the centre of explicit photos row

03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Piers Morgan has berated the BBC on Twitter for failing to name the presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos.

The Sun first reported last week that a high-profile broadcaster had paid more than £35,000 for explicit pictures and appeared in his underwear on a video call with a then-17-year-old. Its report also omitted the star’s name.

The BBC confirmed on Sunday (9 July) it had made contact with the Metropolitan Police over the presenter’s reported actions.

Tom Murray reports:

Piers Morgan blasts BBC for refusing to name presenter in ‘sexual photos’ row

ICYMI: Read BBC statement on presenter scandal in full as it admits seven-week delay

02:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The BBC has admitted bosses only spoke to the top presenter at the centre of a sexual images scandal seven weeks after their family first complained.

The unnamed TV star is accused of paying £35,000 for images over three years to a the-17-year-old teenager, who is now aged 20.

Family members complained to the broadcaster on May 18 but it has since emerged that only two follow-up attempts via email and phone were made by the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team.

Holly Evans reports:

Read BBC statement on presenter scandal in full as it admits seven-week delay

BBC presenter scandal: Why has star not been named and could they be jailed over explicit photos?

01:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A high-profile BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for explicit pictures.

Once the allegations went public, the now-suspended star said, “what have you done?” in an effort to try and “stop the investigation”, it has been claimed.

It came afterThe Sun reported last week how the star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and began paying the person for explicit content when the complainant was 17.

Oliver Pritchard-Jones has the full story:

Why has BBC presenter not been named and could they be jailed over explicit photos?

BBC explicit image scandal: Key points from Tim Davie grilling

Wednesday 12 July 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce

BBC director general Tim Davie has publicly commented on the corporation’s presenter scandal for the first time.

A presenter has been accused of paying a person £35,000 for explicit images over three years which began when the person, now aged 20, was 17, in allegations published by The Sun.

Mr Davie told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme on Tuesday (11 July) that he has not yet spoken to the unnamed presenter.

The BBC boss added that the complaints are “clearly damaging” to the broadcaster, and addressed a challenge from host Sarah Montague that “everyone is this building knows” the identity of the unnamed star.

Holly Patrick reports:

BBC explicit image scandal: Key points from Tim Davie grilling

BBC presenter allegations: A timeline of key events

Tuesday 11 July 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The BBC has suspended a male member of staff following allegations an unnamed presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images.

But the young person at the centre of the controversy has said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened.

Here is a timeline of how events unfolded based, in part, on information from the BBC and The Sun.

Jacob Phillips reports:

BBC presenter allegations: A timeline of key events

BBC presenter accused of breaking lockdown rules to meet online date

Tuesday 11 July 2023 21:38 , Eleanor Noyce

A BBC star at the centre of sex scandal has been accused of breaking covid rules to meet someone he met on a dating app.

According to The Sun newspaper messages suggest the TV personality visited the home of the person he met online and sent cash to them.

He travelled on public transport to meet them out of London on February 18, 2021, the paper claims, weeks after the public were told they could only travel for work.

In an interview, the person, who has not been named, adds: “He (The BBC star) came round for an hour.

“I was quite shocked that he broke the rules to come and meet me because of who he is. I was just a random person online.

The newspaper has handed over evidence of the texts to The BBC.

Piers Morgan blasts BBC for refusing to name presenter at the centre of explicit photos row

Tuesday 11 July 2023 20:48 , Eleanor Noyce

Piers Morgan has berated the BBC on Twitter for failing to name the presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos.

The Sun first reported last week that a high-profile broadcaster had paid more than £35,000 for explicit pictures and appeared in his underwear on a video call with a then-17-year-old.

The BBC confirmed on Sunday (9 July) it had made contact with the Metropolitan Police over the presenter’s reported actions.

Tom Murray reports:

Piers Morgan blasts BBC for refusing to name presenter in ‘sexual photos’ row

The Sun ‘not entirely on solid ground’, says former Guardian editor

Tuesday 11 July 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The former editor of The Guardian has expressed he feels that The Sun is “not entirely on solid ground” in its story regarding the allegations against a BBC presenter.

“If the story was pitched as high as they were pitching it initially.. they could have argued the public interest defence in court if there was subsequent legal action”, Alan Rusbridger told Sky News, stating that usually a newspaper would name a person it was accusing.

It was “curious” that The Sun had not, he added, noting that he felt it was “goading the BBC into trying to do their dirty work for them.”

‘Come forward publicly’, Jeremy Vine urges BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 19:20 , Eleanor Noyce

Jeremy Vine has urged the BBC presenter to “come forward publicly” as speculation about their identity deepens.

“I’m starting to think the BBC Presenter involved in the scandal should now come forward publicly”, Mr Vine tweeted.

“These new allegations will result in yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues of his. And the BBC, which I’m sure he loves, is on its knees with this.

“But it is his decision and his alone.”

‘Show us what you’ve got’, podcast urges The Sun on BBC presenter allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A podcast has urged The Sun to “show us what you’ve got” as the allegations against the BBC presenter continue.

“Surely the onus has to be on The Sun now”, presenter Jon Sopel told The News Agents podcast.

“Well, you know, put up or shut up. Show us what you’ve got. Because at the moment, all we had in The Sun last night after the youngster had made this statement through the lawyer was the parents saying ‘well, we stick by our story.’”

“Rule number one of journalism is it is meant to inform”, co-host Lewis Goodall added.

“It is meant to shed more light than it takes away.

“This as a piece of journalism clearly completely fails on that.

“Every day, we seem to know less.”

‘At some point the dam will burst’, says BBC’s former chief political correspondent

Tuesday 11 July 2023 18:22 , Eleanor Noyce

The BBC’s former chief political correspondent has described BBC director-general Tim Davie’s interview as “deeply embarrassing.”

“I think [the BBC will] stagger on waiting for someone else to break the news - or make the real allegation - as to who the famous presenter is”, John Sergeant told Sky News.

“My feeling is that at some point the dam will burst”, Mr Sergeant added.

“You can’t go on having this extraordinary kind of phoney war between BBC management, their own news staff and all the journalists from Fleet Street crying out for more information.”

Sunak’s press secretary calls for anyone with allegations to ‘come forward’

Tuesday 11 July 2023 17:35 , Holly Evans

Rishi Sunak’s press secretary said anyone with similar allegations to come forward.

“We would call on those people to come forward to ensure that they are supported and their claims looked into,” they said.

Police force first contacted in April, BBC confirms

Tuesday 11 July 2023 17:28 , Eleanor Noyce

Having received a statement from the force, the BBC has confirmed that a police force was contacted in April but that “no criminality was identified.”

The force has also now held meetings with both the Metropolitan Police and the BBC, and “as a result of recent developments, further enquiries are ongoing to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence.”

BBC on a ‘journey’ to uphold transparency, says Ofcom chair

Tuesday 11 July 2023 17:20 , Holly Evans

The BBC is “on a journey” in its efforts to uphold transparency, the chairman of Ofcom has said.

Lord Grade of Yarmouth told the Lords’ Communications and Digital Committee: “The BBC in terms of its relationship with the commercial sector is a journey which they’re still on.

“We are pushing in detailed ways to ensure they’re much more timely in their publication of changes they may want to make so we can assess the market impact.”

Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of the watchdog, said efforts should be made so that people “don’t feel blindsided as they sometimes do by something that comes out a little bit too late.”

Asked what his assessment was of how well the BBC was doing in terms of upholding transparency, Lord Grade said: “I think they’re on a journey.”

BBC boss had been unable to comment on further allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:55 , Holly Evans

During a press briefing around the BBC’s annual report, director-general Tim Davie said he was unable to comment on further allegations against the presenter due to an “active police discusssion” going on.

It has since been reported by BBC News that a second person has made an allegation against the TV star after being first contacted anonymously on a dating app.

The individual said that they were send abusive, expletive-filled messages after hinting online that they would reveal his identity.

The person, aged in their 20s, has no connection to the individual at the centre of the Sun’s story about payments for photos.

BBC News has contacted the presenter directly and via his lawyer but has received no response to the latest allegations.

BBC star sent ‘abusive messages’ to second young person after contact on dating app

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:28 , Holly Evans

A young person in their early 20s said they had felt threatened by messages received from the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos, the broadcaster has reported.

According to the BBC, the individual met the presenter on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms.

The presenter then revealed his identity and asked them not to tell anyone. The individual later posted online alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they might name him.

Adam Forrest has more.

TV star sent ‘abusive messages’ to second young person after contact on dating app

BBC has seen ‘threatening messages’ and confirmed presenter’s phone number

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:19 , Holly Evans

According to the BBC, the person in their early 20s met the presenter on a dating app before their conversations moved to other platforms.

The presenter then revealed his identity and asked the young person not to tell anyone.

The young person later posted online alluding to having had contact with a BBC presenter and hinting they might name him.

The presenter then sent a number of “threatening messages” which the BBC says it has seen and confirmed came from a phone number belonging to the presenter.

The BBC said the young person felt “threatened” by the messages and “remain scared”.

BBC News said it had contacted the presenter via his lawyer but had received no response to the allegations.

Second young person felt threatened by BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:10 , Holly Evans

A young person in their early 20s felt threatened by messages they received from the BBC presenter facing allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos, the broadcaster has reported.

Speaking to BBC News, the individual in their early 20s said they were first contacted anonymously by the male presenter on a dating app.

When the young person hinted online they might name the presenter, they were sent abusive messages and became frightened by the threats made in the messages.

Read BBC statement on presenter scandal in full as it admits seven-week delay

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:49 , Holly Evans

The BBC has admitted bosses only spoke to the top presenter at the centre of a sexual images scandal seven weeks after their family first complained.

The unnamed TV star is accused of paying £35,000 for images over three years to a the-17-year-old teenager, who is now aged 20.

Family members complained to the broadcaster on May 18 but it has since emerged that only two follow-up attempts via email and phone were made by the BBC’s Corporate Investigations Team.

Holly Evans has more

Read BBC statement on presenter scandal in full as it admits seven-week delay

Broadcasters frustrated at Tim Davie interview - ‘It beggars belief’

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:47 , Holly Evans

Following the interview with Tim Davie on BBC Radio Four’s World at One programme, Sky News journalist Katie Spencer said: “All of us broadcasters have asked for interviews with Tim Davie. We’ve been told he’s not giving any interviews.

“If the BBC open, fair, honest and it is up front about what’s going on - to only give an interview to a BBC outlet; to avoid walking in any of the entrances or exits here at the building - for Tim Davie to have gone in via the loading bay to avoid answering of our questions - it just beggars belief.”

Board of the BBC must take ‘full responsibility,’ says Ofcom chair

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:40 , Holly Evans

The board of the BBC must take “full responsibiliy” for the current crisis, the chairman of Ofcom said as he downplayed the prospects of the family at the centre of the claims being able to pursue a complaint with the broadcasting watchdog.

Appearing before the Lords’ Communications and Digital Committee, Baron Michael Grade was asked whether the family may have “recourse” to contact Ofcom if the case is not found to be a matter for the police and they are dissatisfied with the BBC’s own handling of the allegations.

He replied: “I very much doubt it. I think it (wouldn’t) be unless it was a specific programme complaint, a content complaint or a complaint that the BBC had somehow breached its charter… then obviously we would look at it, but I don’t see us getting involved in this one way or another.”

Lord Grade added: “It is for the board of the BBC to take full responsibility for this present crisis.”

Ofcom said ‘governance’ is a matter for the board of the corporation

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:33 , Holly Evans

The chairman of Ofcom said the “management” and “governance” of the BBC is “entirely a matter for the board” of the corporation.

Lord Grade of Yarmouth told the Lords’ Communications and Digital Committee: “There’s a danger that what this current furore might confuse is the role of Ofcom and the role of the BBC.

“We need to be absolutely clear that the public interest in the BBC, the money, its independence, its standard of journalism, its quality of management – that resides singly and solely with the board of the BBC. They are the BBC.”

He added: “Ofcom’s role is very clearly defined and very limited, we create the operating licence under which the BBC television and radio broadcast, we make sure they stick to the licence, we’re there as a court of appeal as it were for members of the public who have not had satisfaction going through the BBC complaints procedure, and we generally monitor the BBC’s performance against its purposes.

“We have nothing to do with the management of the BBC, the governance of the BBC, that is entirely a matter for the board of the BBC.”

Key points from Tim Davie grilling

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:14 , Holly Evans

BBC director general Tim Davie has publicly commented on the corporation’s presenter scandal for the first time.

A presenter has been accused of paying a person £35,000 for explicit images over three years which began when the person, now aged 20, was 17, in allegations published by The Sun.

BBC explicit image scandal: Key points from Tim Davie grilling

BBC reveal highest paid talent in annual review

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:10 , Holly Evans

Gary Lineker is the BBC’s highest paid on-air talent for the sixth consecutive year and the only star to earn more than £1 million in the year 2022/2023, according to the corporation’s annual report.

While there are four women in the top 10 list of highest earners, none of them has broken the £1 million threshold.

The salaries of the corporation’s top talent have been unveiled while the BBC is under pressure over allegations an unnamed presenter paid a teenager for explicit images.

Laura Harding has more.

Gary Lineker remains at top of list of BBC’s highest paid on-air talent

Met Police release new statement

Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:55 , Holly Evans

In a recent statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “We have asked the BBC to pause its own investigation while we continue our assessment to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed.

“The assessment is being led by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command and follows a virtual meeting with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday, 10 July.

“There remains no police investigation at this time.”

Tim Davie says he has not spoken to accused BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:35 , Holly Evans

In an interview with BBC Radio Four’s World at One programme, the director-general said that he had not spoken directly with the accused presenter, but that a “very senior manager” had been in contact.

Row ‘clearly damaging’ for BBC, admits Tim Davie – but defends handling of complaint

Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:20 , Holly Evans

BBC director-general Tim Davie was also grilled on Radio 4’s World at One about whether the corporation had acted quickly enough on initial complaint made by the young person’s family.

Asked what exactly the initial complaint was, and why it was not considered potentially criminal until claims made in The Sun on 6 July, Mr Davie said he “cannot get into specifics” but accepted “they were clearly serious allegations”.

He told the programme it was right not to put the initial allegation to the presenter at the centre of the allegation until efforts were made to “verify” the complaint.

Asked if the presenter has denied the claim, Mr Davie: “I’m not going to get into specific conversations with the presenter.”

Asked if further allegations had been made against the presenter, the director-general said: “Because this is the subject of an active police discussion in terms of what they want to do looking forward ... I cannot comment on that.”

Asked if he was saying that he was “satisfied” with the timing of the BBC’s handling of complaint, he said: “No I think that’s the wrong characterisation.”

He added that the BBC had to “learn lessons” and said he wanted to make sure the process for how serious complaints are “red flagged” to be “immediately reviewed”. On the impact of the row, Mr Davie admitted said “The BBC is often in the midst of quite painful and difficult affairs and storms, and these are clearly damaging to the BBC. And it’s not a good thing for the BBC.”

‘Everyone in the building knows who it is’: BBC host grills Tim Davie

Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:01 , Holly Evans

Director-general Tim Davie has been grilled by BBC Radio 4’s World At One, where he was told “everyone in the building” knows the identity of the presenter at the centre of allegations.

Host Sarah Montague said: “He’s not been named. Everyone is this building knows who it is. And there’s a lot of people who you also have a duty of care presenters on air, who are having to go on air to say it’s not them … It’s not a sustainable situation, is it?”

Mr Davie said: “It is a very difficult and complex situation, and we are trying to calmly and judiciously navigate our way through quite difficult circumstances.”

He added: “It is absolutely not the right thing to be doing to speculate. Some of the malicious stuff online, I would condemn.”

Mr Davie again confirmed that he had not spoken to the presenter directly – but said it was “appropriate” for a “very senior manager” to have spoken to the BBC star after The Sun approached the corporation with new claims.

Director-general has not spoken to suspended presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:32 , Holly Evans

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, the director-general said that he had not spoken directly with the suspended presenter, who has not been named.

Tim Davie added that a senior manager had been in contact with the well-known presenter, who was first made aware of the allegations on July 6.

He described it as a “very difficult and complex situation”.

When asked about further allegations against the presenter, he said he “absolutely cannot comment” as the police continue to investigate.

The Sun questions why allegations ‘weren’t escalated’ by BBC

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:24 , Holly Evans

The Sun, in response to the BBC setting out its timeline, said: “It seems to us that the family is being attacked by the BBC for not fully understanding their complaints system.”

“It remains to be understood why the allegations weren’t escalated and the presenter was not spoken to at the time.”

Lee Anderson claim BBC is ‘safe haven for perverts’ rejected by No 10

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:13 , Adam Forrest

No 10 has rejected comments made by Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson about the BBC being a “safe haven for perverts”.

The right-wing Tory MP said on Monday: “It’s time this taxpayer-funded safe haven for perverts was made a subscription service.”

Asked if Mr Sunak agree, his official spokesman said: “The BBC is a vital institution much cherished by the British public and continues to do vital and important work. It is important they establish the facts and act appropriately.”

Tim Davie grilled on presenter’s bank accounts and phone

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:00 , Holly Evans

Asked if the BBC had asked the presenter for his bank statements or asked for his phone before their own inquiries were paused, Mr Davie said it was “not right to comment” now that the police are looking at the matter.

Asked if the BBC had ascertained who is paying for the young person’s lawyer, Mr Davie said it wasn’t a matter for the corporation.

Mr Davie did not give a direct answer when asked if he was “hopeful” that the BBC presenter would be back on-air if he is cleared.

The director-general said he had not spoken directly to the presenter. He would not comment when asked if the presenter had offered to resign.

He also said he had asked the corporation’s chief operating officer to assess whether the BBC’s protocols and procedures are “appropriate” in light of the allegations presenter. “Of course there will be lessons to be learnt, and how processes could be improved.”

BBC handled allegations ‘judiciously’, says Tim Davie

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:58 , Holly Evans

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the corporation had handled the allegations made against that a BBC presenter had paid a teenager for explicit images “responsibly and judiciously”.

The BBC revealed that it has been asked to pause its investigation into allegations “while the police scope future work” following a meeting with the Metropolitan Police. The broadcaster also set out a timeline of the row.

It showed the corporation had only tried to contact the family member of the young person twice, once by email and once by phone, in the period after the initial complaint on 19 May and The Sun story being published.

It also showed that the BBC did not hold any conversation with the presenter about the family member’s claims until The Sun approached the BBC about its story – seven weeks after the initial complaint.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Davie said it was “clearly a complex and difficult situation” where the BBC had to manage a number of factors – including “sensitively managing duty of care issues, appropriately respecting the privacy of individuals and justified public interest”.

He added: “We do believe we are navigating these responsibly and judiciously, but we recognise it’s not easy to do so.” The director-general said he had “faith” that the public would see the BBC is “doing the right thing”.

Asked about the difference between the complaint on 19 May and the complaint made in The Sun story on 6 July – Mr Davie said those “those new allegations [in The Sun] clearly related to potential criminal activity, criminality – that in a nutshell is the difference”.

Grilled on why the initial allegation did not get put to the presenter for seven weeks, Mr Davie said: “I think it’s right they should make contact with the individual who made the initial allegation and get some verification.”

Accused presenter was not informed until last Thursday of allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:37 , Holly Evans

BBC boss Tim Davie said the unnamed presenter was first talked to last Thursday on the day the allegations in The Sun came to the BBC.

He said the BBC received a call on 19 May, which was taken by the BBC services team, before an investigation by the corporate services team.

“It was serious but their assessment was it didn’t include an allegation of criminality,” he said.

Just two attempts were made to contact the family before The Sun approached the BBC on July 6.

Downing Street denies Sunak is avoiding finding out identity of BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:30 , Holly Evans

Downing Street has denied that Rishi Sunak is trying to avoid finding out who the suspended BBC presenter is, in order to evade questions.

When this was put to the Prime Minister’s official spokesman, he told reporters: “I wouldn’t characterise it like that.

“I mean, the Prime Minister is at the Nato summit and yesterday had the president of the United States here, so obviously his time is taken up with those issues.

“It’s for the BBC and others to look into this one.”

‘There will be lessons to be learned,’ says TV boss

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:22 , Holly Evans

Tim Davie said he has asked Leigh Tavaziva, the BBC’s Group chief operating officer, to assess whether its protocols and procedures are appropriate in light of this case, and report to the BBC Board on this in due course.

Speaking at a press conference about the BBC’s annual report, Davie said: “Of course there will be lessons to be learned, and how processes could be improved.

“Immediately I have asked that we assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation.

“We will take time to properly review the current protocols and procedures to ensure they remain sufficient based on anything we learn from this case.”

BBC assessed no allegation of criminality in May complaint

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:11 , Holly Evans

When asked about the difference between the complaint on May 19 and the complaint made in The Sun story, Tim Davie said: “The process is that we did receive a call as you can see in the timeline on May 19 that was taken by Audience Services Team who then make a summary of the call and put it to our highly experienced Corporate Investigations team.

“On the basis of the information they had at that point, it did not include an allegation of criminality, but none the less was very serious and they wanted to follow it up, and you can see the attempts to follow it up on the timeline.

“It was serious but the key was their assessment was it did not include an allegation of criminality.

“When The Sun made new allegations on July 6 they were different to the matters considered by BBC Corporate Investigations and those new allegations clearly related to potential criminal activity, criminality, that in a nutshell is the difference.”

BBC sets out a timeline of presenter allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:05 , Holly Evans

18 May – A family member of the young man attended a BBC building to try to make a complaint about the behaviour of a BBC presenter. And on 19 May, the family member contacted BBC audience services, before the details of the allegation were referred to the BBC’s corporate investigations team.

19 May – the BBC’s corporate investigations team assessed that it did not include an allegation of criminality, but then emailed the family member to see additional information – but said there was no response.

6 June – Having received no response to the email referenced above, a phone call was made to the mobile number provided by the family member by this call did not connect.

6 July – The Sun newspaper informed the BBC via the press office of allegations concerning a BBC presenter. The claims made by The Sun contained new allegations –different to the matters being considered from 10 May. This was the first time that the director-general or any executive directors at the BBC were aware of the case.

6 July – the BBC initiated an incident management group to lead the response to this case, involving senior BBC executives including the director-general. The acting chairman was updated, and the board was regularly updated in the coming days.

6 July – A senior manager held the first conversation on this matter with the presenter concerned, to make him aware of the claims being outlined by The Sun. It was agreed that the presenter would not be on air while this matter was being considered.

7 July – the BBC’s corporate investigations team contacted the family member again. The BBC’s Serious Case Management Framework (SCMF) was initiated and the investigation brought into the SCMF. The BBC also made contact with the police.

8 July – The family member sent the BBC some materials related to the allegation. More material was sent on 9 July.

9 July – The BBC issued an update to staff and the media; the BBC also confirmed that it had suspended the presenter.

10 July – The BBC met with the Metropolitan Police. The police requested that the BBC pause its investigations into the allegations while they scope future work.

BBC ‘pauses’ investigation into presenter while police examine case

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:00 , Holly Evans

The BBC has said it has paused its investigations into the allegations about its presenter after a meeting with the Metropolitan Police chiefs on Sunday.

The corporation said it had been asked to put the matter on hold while Scotland Yard “scope” future work on the matter.

BBC director-general Tim Davie told reporters that the broadcaster had “not been given a timescale” by police for their inquiries.

Mr Davie also said that if any further information came to light in the meantime, it would be passed onto the police.

BBC director-general to face media at midday

Tuesday 11 July 2023 11:41 , Holly Evans

The BBC director-general is due to appear at noon to deliver the corporation’s annual report, which usually details their highest-paying presenters.

Tim Davie will face questions from journalists for the first time since the BBC suspended an unnamed male presenter who has been accused of paying a teenager for explicit photos

Rishi Sunak declines to comment on report MPs could name BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:49 , Holly Evans

Rishi Sunak has declined to comment on reports some MPs could be considering naming under the protection of parliamentary privilege the BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images.

On his trip to the Nato summit in Lithuania, the Prime Minister said: “We have an existing set of laws that govern free speech and privacy.

“I think it’s important that the BBC conducts this investigation quickly and rigorously given the concerning and serious nature of the allegations.”

He said the Government “is confident the BBC is investigating this both rigorously and rapidly” and that this is “the right course of action”.

Sunak ‘shocked’ by BBC presenter allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:30 , Holly Evans

Rishi Sunak has said he was “shocked” at the allegations against a top BBC presenter.

The prime minister said he had not been told who the claims were about, and said the government had been assured that the issue was being handled swiftly by the BBC.

The young person at the centre of the controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened with the unnamed presenter, however their mother reportedly stands by the claims made in The Sun newspaper, which reported he paid a young person tens of thousands of pounds for explicit images.

On his way to the NATO summit in Lithuania, Mr Sunak said: “They were shocking and concerning allegations, of course they were”.

Asked if he had been told the name of the star at the centre of the claims, he said: “No”.

Mr Sunak said the culture secretary Lucy Frazer has talked with the director general of the BBC on Sunday for reassurance that the process is “rigorous and will be swift”. He added it was important to let that process “carry on”.

Urge BBC and Sun to name presenter, former culture secretary tells ministers

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:16 , Holly Evans

Former culture secretary David Mellor called on the government to urge the Sun and the BBC to name the presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexual images.

Mr Mellor said the BBC should “breathe out” and identify the unnamed employee, allowing him to defend himself publicly as so many people already know who he is.

Mr Mellor told Times Radio: “It’s now got to the point where it’s quite damaging that so many people know but a lot of people don’t. Information should be open to all. And I think that the BBC should just breathe out.”

He said the BBC should “of course” name the presenter. And Mr Mellor said: “The government has got to maintain the credibility of a state publicly funded broadcasting organisation, it should say to them, as it should say to The Sun, publish and be damned. Let’s have it out there. Why hasn’t The Sun published any of this?

“The public has a right to know this has dragged on for long enough. They’ve made a perfectly legitimate effort to protect a senior and valued employee, but it’s gone beyond that.”

Why has star not been named and could they be jailed over explicit photos?

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:47 , Holly Evans

A high-profile BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for explicit pictures.

Once the allegations went public, the now-suspended star said, “what have you done?” in an effort to try and “stop the investigation”, it has been claimed.

It came afterThe Sun reported last week how the star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and began paying the person for explicit content when the complainant was 17.

Oliver Pritchard-Jones has more.

Why has BBC presenter not been named and could they be jailed over explicit photos?

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:43 , Holly Evans

The BBC’s director-general is due to face reporters later today following the publication of the BBC’s annual report, which typically reveals how much the biggest earners make.

A former legal correspondent for the corporation said Tim Davie “will have to say something” about the allegations facing one of his presenters.

Speaking to Sky News, Joshua Rozenberg said: “Certainly, I think there are questions to be answered.

“The BBC will certainly have to say something at the news briefing today.”

However, he said Mr Davie might simply say that he “cannot answer” any questions about the scandal.

“I’m sure the BBC would like to be able to say something and I very much hope the BBC has a statement at the very least saying why it can’t say what we want it to answer,” he added.

“Presumably, this is because it owes a duty to the presenter not to throw him under the bus.”

The claims and timeline of allegations

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:09 , Holly Evans

A BBC presenter allegedly paid tens of thousands of pounds to a teenager for explicit images, according to a report published on Friday.

The family of the teenager reportedly complained to the BBC in May but the broadcaster said that “new allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature”, according to the Sun.

BBC boss Tim Davie was summoned for crisis talks on Sunday as it emerged that the company had known of the allegations against the star presenter for almost two months now.

Timeline of allegations against BBC presenter accused of paying for explicit images

‘The presenter is entitled to privacy,’ says media lawyer

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:04 , Holly Evans

Media lawyer Mark Stephens has shed some light on the privacy issues surrounding this case.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, he said: “The presenter is entitled to privacy.”

In 2018, in an entirely separate dispute, Sir Cliff Richard won a privacy case against the BBC over its coverage of a police raid on his home in Berkshire.

Stephens says that the judge said from that case onwards “if someone was a suspect but there was no investigation, no charge, then they had a reasonable expectation of privacy”.

He adds that the “rationale for that is quite sensible” because no-one has all the facts at that early stage.

Cabinet minister says he won’t use his parliamentary privilege to name BBC presenter

Tuesday 11 July 2023 08:21 , Holly Evans

Cabinet minister says he won’t use his parliamentary privilege to name BBC presenter

Government minister warns MPs against naming BBC presenter using parliamentary privilege

Tuesday 11 July 2023 08:12 , Holly Evans

A government minister has urged MPs not to name the BBC presenter at the heart of a scandal over allegations he paid a teenager for explicit images.

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said parliamentary privilege, which lets MPs speak in the Commons without fear of legal repercussions, should be “used very sparingly and with great thought”.

Asked whether the presenter’s identity should be revealed, Mr Stride told Sky News: “I can only speak for myself and say that that is certainly something that I would not choose to do.” He said: “I would personally certainly not be doing that.

“Members of parliament do have a right to privilege and to be able to say things in the commons without fear of legal repercussions.

“But I think that is a privilege that should be used very sparingly, and with great thought.”

It followed suggestions in the Daily Mail that MPs were considering naming the individual in the Commons.

Cabinet Minister says BBC should be given ‘space’ to investigate

Tuesday 11 July 2023 07:57 , Holly Evans

A Cabinet minister has urged people to “resist… the urge to opine on” the allegations that a BBC presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit images, and about how the allegations are being dealt with.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Sky News: “Once it’s all over and concluded, I think that is most certainly the time to be looking at whether things were done correctly or not.

“But at the moment, it seems to me this is a highly fluid, unknown situation and we should give the BBC a bit of space.

“It’s really important that all of us resist, to the extent that we can, the urge to opine on what was right, or what was outrageous or wrong, until we know all the facts.”

Asked about the BBC’s handling of the situation, he said: “We don’t know enough of the facts to be able to start pointing too many fingers yet at the process.

“I think we have to wait till this has played out as quickly and effectively as possible, and that’s what the Secretary of State (for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) has been pushing for. And then we can start to make those judgments.”

BBC director-general to face the media today

Tuesday 11 July 2023 07:32 , Holly Evans

Director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporation’s annual report, although the controversy will dominate the agenda.

The report, planned before the allegations came out, is an assessment of the BBC’s performance over the last 12 months.

It typically reveals the pay remuneration of the corporation’s biggest earners, with Mr Davie also expected to answer questions about stars’ pay packets.

BBC scandals involving high-profile stars to have shocked over the years

Tuesday 11 July 2023 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The BBC has been hit by several scandals involving high-profile stars over the years.

The broadcaster’s reputation has been rocked by a series of wrongdoings which have raised questions about its culture and practices, including allegations of sexual abuse and fraud.

After the suspension of an unnamed BBC presenter amid claims he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photographs, the PA news agency looks at the scandals associated with the corporation over the years:

BBC scandals involving high-profile stars to have shocked over the years

Voices: ‘Trial by Twitter’ for those named in the BBC scandal is desperately unfair – and dangerous

Tuesday 11 July 2023 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce

“It doesn’t take very long to browse social media and find out who the BBC “presenter” in the news is not.

“It’s not Gary Lineker, it’s not Rylan Clark, it’s not Jeremy Vine, it’s not Nicky Campbell and it’s not any of the other people who’ve felt it necessary to make a denial.

“All have been forced, almost blackmailed, into this by the keyboard sleuths of Twitter calling them a “nonce”, the accumulated malign speculation helpfully collated by suitable hashtags. Suddenly, we’ve all acquired the brilliant digital forensic skills of Colleen Rooney.”

This doesn’t feel very much like a lawful process, let alone natural justice, for whoever it is. It feels like a modern, digital version of lynching – and any celebrity will do, writes Sean O’Grady:

‘Trial by Twitter’ of BBC presenters is unfair – and dangerous | Sean O’Grady

What are the allegations against BBC presenter and why hasn’t he been named?

Tuesday 11 July 2023 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A BBC presenter allegedly paid tens of thousands of pounds to a teenager for explicit images, according to a report published on Friday.

The family of the teenager reportedly complained to the BBC in May but the broadcaster said that “new allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature”, according to the Sun.

BBC boss Tim Davie was summoned for crisis talks on Sunday as it emerged that the company had known of the allegations against the star presenter for almost two months now.

Read more:

What are the allegations against BBC presenter and why hasn’t he been named?

BBC presenter scandal: Could suspended star be jailed over explicit photos?

Tuesday 11 July 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce

A high-profile BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for explicit pictures.

Once the allegations went public, the now-suspended star said, “what have you done?” in an effort to try and “stop the investigation”, it has been claimed.

It came afterThe Sun reported last week how the star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and began paying the person for explicit content when the complainant was 17.

Oliver Pritchard-Jones reports:

BBC presenter scandal : Could suspended star be jailed over explicit photos?

Timeline of allegations about BBC presenter

Monday 10 July 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The BBC has suspended a male member of staff following allegations an unnamed presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images.

However, the young person at the centre of the controversy said nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened.

Here is a timeline of the events surrounding the emergence and fallout from the allegations.

Cormac Pearson reports:

Timeline of allegations about BBC presenter

‘Dangerous absence of facts’ in presenter story, says former BBC News exec

Monday 10 July 2023 21:41 , Eleanor Noyce

Former BBC News executive Tim Luckhurst has warned of a “dangerous absence of facts” in the BBC presenter story.

“This story has been marked from the beginning by a dangerous absence of facts, at every stage there have been more questions than answers and that remains the case tonight”, Mr Luckhurst told the BBC.

“The emphasis has shifted - now it seems that the parents may have raised concerns with The Sun concerns which did not directly reflect the concerns of their child.

“But at no stage in this story have we seen the full details that The Sun purports to have.

“I am beginning to suspect that the problem is that the facts are not entirely clear to The Sun, they’re not clear to the BBC either.”

Young person and mother estranged, lawyer claims in letter

Monday 10 July 2023 21:18 , Eleanor Noyce

Revealing more details from the letter penned by the young person’s lawyer, the BBC has reported that they and their mother are estranged.

Criticising both The Sun and the BBC for failing to contact their client, the lawyer further claims that the reporting has amounted to an invasion of privacy.

“Nobody from The Sun newspaper appears to have made any attempt to contact our client prior to the publication of the allegations on Friday 6 July”, the lawyer writes.