BBC presenter scandal: Presenter accused of paying teen for explicit photos is suspended - latest

The BBC has suspended a presenter accused of paying a teenager thousands for sexually explicit photographs.

The broadcaster said an initial complaint over the unnamed TV presenter was made in May, but said “new allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature”.

It said in a statement: “In addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols. We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.”

It comes after high-profile BBC stars spoke out after the allegations were made against the presenter in The Sun on Friday.

An unnamed BBC star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and paid more than £35,000 in exchange for sexual images.

Several famous names have since publicly said they were not the presenter at the centre of the allegations, amid heavy speculation about the person’s identity on social media.

Writing on Twitter, TV presenter Rylan Clark said: “Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in the sun- that ain’t me babe. I’m Currently filming a show in Italy for the bbc, so take my name out ya mouths.”

Key Points

• BBC presenter suspended

• Top BBC presenter ‘stripped to underwear in video call with teen he paid for explicit pictures’

• Stars speak out ‘after top presenter paid teen for explicit photos’

• BBC has ‘very serious questions’ to answer over presenter in sexual image scandal

• Mother of victim blames BBC presenter for turning child into ‘ghost-like crack addict’

BBC statement in full

15:15 , Katy Clifton

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May.

“New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.

“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.

“We expect to be in a position to provide a further update in the coming days as the process continues.

“The BBC board will continue to be kept up to date.

“The BBC takes any allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations.

“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.

“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care.

“We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.”

Breaking: BBC presenter suspended

15:14 , Katy Clifton

The BBC has just confirmed a male member of staff has been suspended following allegations an unnamed BBC presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

We’ll bring you more on this breaking story as we get it.

What are the allegations against the unnamed BBC presenter?

14:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager over £35,000 in exchange for sexual photos.

The mother of the victim claimed the money was used to fund a “cocaine addiction” which “destroyed” her child’s life.

Neither the presenter nor the victim have been identified.

BBC is investigating allegations ‘swiftly and sensitively'

13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The culture secretary said she had been assured the BBC is investigating allegations against one of its presenters “swiftly and sensitively”.

In a tweet after a phone call with BBC director-general Tim Davie on Sunday, Lucy Frazer said: “I have spoken to BBC Director General Tim Davie about the deeply concerning allegations involving one of its presenters.

“He has assured me the BBC are 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.”

BBC responds to allegation

13:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In response to the report, a BBC spokesperson said on Saturday: “We treat any allegations very seriously and we have processes in place to proactively deal with them.

“As part of that, if we receive information that requires further investigation or examination we will take steps to do this.

“That includes actively attempting to speak to those who have contacted us in order to seek further detail and understanding of the situation.

“If we get no reply to our attempts or receive no further contact, that can limit our ability to progress things but it does not mean our enquiries stop.

“If, at any point, new information comes to light or is provided – including via newspapers – this will be acted upon appropriately, in line with internal processes.”

Media lawyers says BBC handling of complaint has been a ‘shambles'

12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Media lawyer Mark Stephens said the BBC handling of the complaint had been a “shambles”, arguing it had “really dropped the ball”.

“And it does seem that they’ve also caused this to escalate, because it was the frustration with the BBC not acting that led to the family to go to the Sun newspaper,” he told Times Radio.

“And that I think is reckless, because of course what has happened is we’ve seen all this conjecture on social media.”

Culture secretary to hold urgent talks with BBC director

12:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will hold urgent talks with BBC director-general Tim Davie over “deeply concerning” allegations that an unnamed presenter at the corporation paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

Senior officials have told the broadcaster that the allegations reported by The Sun newspaper must be investigated “urgently and sensitively”, with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) kept updated.

Ms Frazer and Mr Davie will have a phone call on Sunday as the BBC comes under pressure over its handling of the complaint.

A DCMS spokeswoman said: “These allegations are deeply concerning.

“As a public service broadcaster in receipt of public funding, senior officials have stressed to the BBC that the allegations must be investigated urgently and sensitively, with the department kept informed.

“The Culture Secretary will be speaking to Tim Davie later today.”

Former Tory leader says BBC is in ‘a mess'

11:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said the BBC is in a mess and should have immediately suspended the presenter at the centre of the sex scandal.

He said it is clear the corporation has “tried to play this down from the beginning” only for the scandal to “explode”.

“The BBC should act like everybody else does and immediately suspend somebody pending the investigation,” Sir Iain said.

He told GB News: “That way it’s clear and then you can get on with it. At this stage, to try and do it quietly and behind the scenes - it never works because somebody has blown the gaff and they’re in trouble now.

“I don’t quite know what they’re doing. It’s a mess. Clearly if you read the newspaper reports, you can see that the BBC has tried to play this down from the beginning. And it has not worked, because it has exploded.

“They didn’t have any plan. Any inquiries that are taking place seem to be a mess. And that’s led to a whole series of reputational damage across the newspapers to the BBC.”

BBC urged to ‘act swiftly’ over allegation

10:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The BBC has been urged to act “very swiftly” to deal with the claims centring on an unnamed presenter alleged to have paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

Government minister Victoria Atkins described the claims reported by the Sun as “very, very serious” as questions over the broadcaster’s handling of the situation were raised.

Ms Atkins, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “These are very, very serious allegations and the BBC have said they have processes in place.

“But as public attention and concern grows the BBC is going to have to act very swiftly to deal with these allegations and to set out what they are doing to investigate them.”

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged the broadcasters to “speed up their processes” in investigating such allegations.

The Labour MP told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I do feel that I often come on this programme and we do start with another crisis at the BBC.

What are the allegations against the BBC presenter?

10:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The BBC presenter has been accused of paying a teenager over £35,000 in exchange for sexual photos.

The mother of the victim claimed the money was used to fund a “cocaine addiction” which “destroyed” her child’s life.

Neither the presenter nor the victim have been identified.

Stars speak out ‘after top presenter paid teen for explicit photos’

09:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Several high profile figures have spoken out about the allegations to deny any involvement.

Writing on Twitter, TV presenter Rylan Clark said: “Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in the sun- that ain’t me babe. I’m Currently filming a show in Italy for the bbc, so take my name out ya mouths.”

Shortly afterwards, radio star Jeremy Vine also responded to the story, telling his Twitter followers: “It certainly ain’t me”.

Gary Lineker tweeted: “Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.”

Nicky Campbell appeared to suggest he had contacted police about being mentioned in connection with the story.

BBC has ‘very serious questions’ to answer over presenter in sexual image scandal

09:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Senior MPs are calling for the BBC to investigate its handling of allegations that a star presenter paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for explicit pictures, saying the corporation has “very serious questions” to answer.

Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the allegations are “deeply concerning” and called for the BBC to “get a grip”.

And government minister Victoria Atkins called on the BBC to “act swiftly” to deal with the allegations.

“These are very serious allegations and I can quite understand the public’s concern about them,” she added.

BBC under fire over star ‘paying teen for sexual images’ - latest

BBC presenter should not stay on job under investigation, shadow chancellor says

08:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The BBC presenter at the centre of claims he paid a teenager for explicit pictures should not stay in his job while an investigation is carried out, Rachel Reeves has said.

The shadow chancellor told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News the allegations are “deeply concerning”.

Ms Reeves said: “The idea that some presenters think that they act with impunity and they can get away with these sorts of things, it does call into question the ethics, the investigations, how long these things take.

“The BBC, but also other broadcasters, do need to get a grip because we seem to lurch from one scandal to another and more needs to be done.”

She added: “When serious allegations are made like this I don’t think it is right that people stay in those jobs while those very serious investigations go on.”

BBC responds to allegation

07:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In response to the report, a BBC spokesperson said: “We treat any allegations very seriously and we have processes in place to proactively deal with them.

“As part of that, if we receive information that requires further investigation or examination we will take steps to do this.

“That includes actively attempting to speak to those who have contacted us in order to seek further detail and understanding of the situation.

“If we get no reply to our attempts or receive no further contact, that can limit our ability to progress things but it does not mean our enquiries stop.

“If, at any point, new information comes to light or is provided – including via newspapers – this will be acted upon appropriately, in line with internal processes.”

Mother of victim blames BBC presenter for turning child into ‘ghost-like crack addict’

07:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Speaking about the allegations, the mother of the victim told The Sun how her child, now 20, had gone from a “happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict” in three years.

She said: “When I see him on telly, I feel sick.

“I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.

“Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”

‘That ain’t me’: Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine respond to BBC presenter scandal

07:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

TV presenter Rylan Clark has addressed baseless speculation surrounding the unnamed BBC presenter who has been accused of paying a teenager for explicit photos.

The unknown presenter is reportedly a BBC star who has been taken off air since the allegation emerged.

After the story was published, Mr Clark said: “Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in the sun- that ain’t me babe. I’m Currently filming a show in Italy for the bbc, so take my name out ya mouths.”

Read more here:

‘That ain’t me’: Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine respond to BBC presenter scandal

Top BBC presenter ‘stripped to underwear in video call with teen he paid for explicit pictures’

07:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A top BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit pictures stripped to his underwear while on a video call, the mother of the alleged victim has claimed.

It is alleged that the TV star paid more than £35,000 in exchange for sexual images and that the teenager used the money to fund a cocaine addiction, which “destroyed” their life.

The mother described how her child, who was said to be 17 when the payments began, turned from a “happy-go-lucky youngster” to a “ghost-like crack addict” in three years.

Neither the presenter nor the teenager has been identified. The presenter has reportedly been taken off air over the claims.

Matt Drake reports:

Top BBC presenter ‘stripped to underwear in video call with teen’