BBC suspends presenter accused of paying teen for sexually explicit photos

The BBC has suspended the unnamed presenter accused of paying a teenager thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos.

The presenter allegedly first requested images from the youth in 2020 when they were aged 17 and has made a series of payments over the years, according to The Sun.

In a statement, the broadcaster said it “takes any allegations seriously” and has “robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations”.

The BBC website reported that the corporation had been “in touch with the police” in addition to its own enquiries.

The corporation said that while it first became aware of a complaint in May, “new allegations” of a “different nature” were put to it on Thursday.

In addition to its own internal inquiries, it has been “in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols”.

“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended,” the BBC said.

“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care.”

The corporation said it expected to be able to provide a further update in the “coming days”.

In an email to staff, Director General Tim Davie said the BBC is taking the allegations “incredibly seriously”.

He added: “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.”

Earlier, Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, said the BBC was acting “swiftly and sensitively”.

She has spoken to Mr Davie on the phone. Writing on Twitter, Ms Frazer said: “Given the nature of the allegations it is important that the BBC is now given the space to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action.”

In new allegations published in The Sun on Sunday, the young person’s mother said she was “shocked” when her child showed her a screenshot of a video chat, in which the well-known presenter was sitting in his boxer shorts on a sofa at his home.

She said the man appeared to be “leaning forward, getting ready for my child to perform for him”.

“My child told me, ‘I have shown things’ and this was a picture from some kind of video call,” she added.

The newspaper did not say when the alleged incident happened.

The mother also said that earlier this year she was shocked when she overheard the presenter “on the phone saying to my child: ‘I told you not to f***ing ring me’.”

The youth, who is now aged 20, used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit which “destroyed” their life, the mother has also claimed.