BBC statement in full as presenter suspended over explicit teen pics allegations
A male member of staff has been suspended following allegations an unnamed BBC presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit images, the BBC said.
Director general of the BBC Tim Davie has reiterated the state broadcaster is taking the allegations "incredibly seriously".
The new statement follows BBC stars like Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine all publicly denying being the unnamed BBC presenter at the heart of the allegations on Saturday.
The BBC statement in full reads: "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.
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"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.
"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 enquiries 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."
In an internal email to BBC employees, director general Tim Davie told staff: "By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex. I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent.
"We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate."
On Friday, The Sun reported an unidentified BBC presenter allegedly paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexually explicit pictures. It is claimed an unnamed star at the national broadcaster has been accused of handing over cash sums in return for explicit images from the teenager when they were 17-years-old.
The mother of the alleged recipient claims her child used the money to fund an addiction to crack cocaine and she blames the presenter for "destroying her child's life". It is thought the woman’s child is now 20-years-old.
In an additional report on Saturday, the mother of the anonymous accuser alleged the still then unnamed BBC presenter stripped to his underwear during a video call with her then teenage child.
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