9 questions BBC ‘refused to answer’ on presenter who ‘paid teen for photos’

BBC have reportedly refused to answer a set of questions linked to the allegations made against one of the channel’s unnamed stars. 

A presenter who works for the broadcaster, who has not been identified publicly, has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for explicit pictures from when the youngster in question was 17 years old.

Follow the latest news on the BBC presenter allegations over on Metro.co.uk’s live blog.

A spokesperson for the corporation outlined in a statement that the BBC first became ‘aware of a complaint’ in May, before new allegations were presented to them on Thursday July 6 ‘of a different nature’.

‘In addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols,’ they stated, adding that a ‘male member of staff has been suspended’.

In a statement to Metro.co.uk the BBC said it treats ‘any allegations very seriously’ and had ‘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.’

But it added that: ‘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.’

‘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,’ it concluded.

According to the Sun, the broadcaster was asked by them whether the unnamed presenter was ‘spoken to after the initial complaint?’, among several other queries around the BBC licence fee, and further details around the investigation.

They were also allegedly asked if this was the ‘first time’ the staff member was spoken to after the complaint.

Former home secretary Priti Patel said the BBC’s response has been ‘derisory’.

‘They must provide the victim and his family a full and transparent investigation,’ she said.

‘The BBC which is funded by licence fee payers has become a faceless and unaccountable organisation.’

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.’

A number of BBC stars publicly said they were not the presenter at the centre of the allegations, amid heavy speculation about their identity on social media.

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

Rylan Clark wrote: ‘Not sure why my name’s 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.’

Metro.co.uk contacted the BBC for comment. 

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