11 July 2023 , 09:35
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Allegations a BBC star paid a teenager £35,000 for sexual pictures are “shocking” Rishi Sunak said as he called for a “rigorous” probe.
Culture Secretary Luzy Frazer held emergency talks with corporation director-general Tim Davie on Sunday as the crisis deepened.
The Prime Minister revealed he had not been told the identity of the presenter but, flying to a NATO summit in Vilnius, he said: “They were shocking, concerning allegations, of course they were.
"The Culture Secretary spoke to the Director-General on Sunday and is reassured that the process that they are undertaking is rigorous and will be swift. We’ve had those reassurances and I think that’s the right thing to do because given the concerning nature of the allegations it’s right they’re investigated swiftly and rigorously.”
The BBC has suspended a male member of staff after The Sun newspaper reported he paid a young person around £35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for explicit images.
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Director-general Tim Davie is due to face the media today for a scheduled briefing following the release of the corporation’s annual report, although 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 comes after sensational statements last night from a lawyer representing the young person at the centre of the allegations said they are "not true". The mother of the alleged recipient claims her child used the money to fund an addiction to crack cocaine and says she blames the presenter for "destroying her child's life". She also claims to have first contacted the BBC regarding the allegations on May 19.
Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth, said he "wouldn't name" the BBC presenter.
"I know it's certainly a very sensitive and difficult story for the BBC," he told Sky News.
"Developments overnight suggest there are some complications and disputes in versions of events.
"I think the most important thing is that this is thoroughly investigated, the BBC look into this all properly and they should be allowed to get on with that.
"I don't think it's helpful for politicians to be offering a running commentary or making statements in the House of Commons about who this person might be or not be."