UK government demands deadline for inquiry

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UPDATE: The UK government has called on the BBC to urgently and sensitively investigate claims that one of its biggest stars paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

In a statement early on Sunday afternoon, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the claims were deeply concerning and urged the BBC to keep ministers informed of its actions.

As a publicly funded public service broadcaster, senior officials have told the BBC that the allegations must be investigated urgently and sensitively, with [DCMS] kept informed, the ministry said.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and Tim Davie, the BBC’s chief executive, are due to speak later today.

PREVIOUS: The mysterious BBC presenter at the heart of a sex photo scandal faced new allegations on Sunday amid a growing crisis for Britain’s national broadcaster.

Tabloid The Sun alleged the unnamed star appeared in a video call with a teenager in his underwear. It follows earlier revelations that the star paid the youngster tens of thousands of pounds for explicit images, with the exchanges dating back to 2020 when the individual was 17 years old.

The Sun bases its report on allegations made by the teenager’s mother. She reportedly signed an affidavit supporting her claims and did not seek payment for telling her story. No one involved in the story has been named.

Deadline spoke to several BBC and industry sources on Saturday about the presenter’s identity and one individual’s name came up repeatedly. At least four other presenters, including Gary Lineker, had to deny they were the mystery star amid wild and libelous speculation on social media.

The mum told The Sun she saw an image on her child’s phone of the BBC presenter in his underwear leaning forward, preparing for my child to play for him. The Sun did not say he had seen the image, nor did he claim to have had a direct view of other evidence.

I loved watching him on TV, so I was shocked to see a picture of him sitting on a couch in his house in his underwear. I recognized him immediately, the mother told The Sun. She said her child was using the star’s money to fund a drug addiction.

The woman also claimed to have once overheard a telephone conversation between the presenter and her child. Earlier this year, I overheard him on the phone saying to my child, I told you not to call me. It was shocking, she said.

The BBC is not commenting beyond a statement released on Friday in which it said it took the allegations very seriously. The broadcaster is under increasing pressure to provide answers about its handling of the case.

The teenager’s mother filed a complaint with the BBC about the presenter on May 19. He continued to host high-profile BBC productions until recent days. The star is off the air as the scandal escalates, but Deadline understands he hasn’t been officially suspended.

Caroline Dinenage, chair of the UK parliament’s influential culture, media and sport committee, said the BBC had some very serious questions to answer. Writing in The Sun, she added: Its vital TV companies have processes to ensure these broadcasting gods don’t abuse their disproportionate influence over the careers of others.

Rachel Reeves, Labors Shadow Chancellor, told the BBC the company needed to put its house in order and provide more clarity on what happened in the case and what it was doing to try to put the situation right.

It is also questionable whether the BBC has contacted the police, given that the teenager is believed to have been 17 when he first came into contact with the presenter.

It is an offense under UK child protection law to create, distribute, possess or show indecent images of anyone under the age of 18, even if the content was created with that young person’s consent.

The BBC said: We treat all allegations very seriously and have processes in place to deal with them proactively.

As part of this, if we receive information that requires further investigation or review, we will take steps to do so. This includes actively trying to speak to those who have contacted us in order to obtain more details and understand the situation.

If we get no response to our attempts or receive no further contact, it may limit our ability to get things done, but it doesn’t mean our inquiries stop. If at any time new information is revealed or provided, including via logs, it will be handled appropriately in accordance with internal processes.

BBC Director General Tim Davie will face the press on Tuesday when the broadcaster publishes its annual report.

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