BBC boss set to be questioned over unnamed presenter

The boss of the BBC is set to be questioned over the allegations of a BBC presenter paying more than £35,000 to a young person for sexually explicit images.

The BBC has since suspended the male member of staff after The Sun revealed the payments began from when the young person was 17 years old, their mother said.

Since then, 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.

In a letter reported by BBC News At Six, the young person said via a 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’.”

Privacy law has to try to catch up with what’s happening on social media, says former BBC presenter Roger Bolton

So should privacy laws be stricter?#KayBurley FC pic.twitter.com/CxCyoC50Sc

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) July 11, 2023

The legal representative also said the young person told The Sun on Friday evening (July 7) before the newspaper published the story that there was “no truth to it”, the BBC reported.

A spokesperson for The Sun said: “We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child. Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC.

“We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. It’s now for the BBC to properly investigate.”

What is the BBC’s annual report about?

Director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media on Tuesday (July 11) for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporation’s annual report, although it’s thought 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.

It’s thought the scheduled briefing following the release of the BBC’s annual report will be dominated by the unnamed presenter allegations (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Met police meet with BBC over allegations against an unnamed presenter

Met Police met with the BBC over allegations that a presenter working with the broadcaster paid a teenager for explicit images.

However, the police force added that no investigation was taking place “at this time”.

The Met in London released a statement, announcing the virtual meeting, telling the public: “Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command met with representatives from the BBC on the morning of Monday, 10 July. The meeting took place virtually.

“They are assessing the information discussed at the meeting and further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed.”

The Met Police added: “There is no investigation at this time.”