The BBC said it takes any allegations very seriously
(PA Wire)
The BBC has come under pressure after a top presenter was accused of paying a teenager thousands for explicit pictures.
The unnamed BBC star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and paid more than £35,000 in exchange for sexual images.
The mother of the victim, who was 17-years-old whenthe payments began, told The Sun she saw a picture of the presenter on her child’s phone in which he was “sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear” and she said she was told it was “a picture from some kind of video call”.
The mother alleges her child used the money to fund a cocaine addiction which “destroyed” their life, and turned them from a “happy-go-lucky youngster” to a “ghost-like crack addict” in three years.
The Sun said the teenager’s family complained to the BBC on 19 May.
Neither the individual nor the teenager have been identified. The Sun reports that while the presenter is off air, he has not been suspended.
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BBC responds to allegation
In response to the report, a BBC spokesperson said: “We treat any allegations very seriously and we have 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.
“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.
“If, at any point, new information comes to light or is provided – including via newspapers – this will be acted upon appropriately, in line with internal processes.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain9 July 2023 07:49
Mother of victim blames BBC presenter for turning child into ‘ghost-like crack addict’
Speaking about the allegations, the mother of the victim told The Sun how her child, now 20, had gone from a “happy-go-lucky youngster to a ghost-like crack addict” in three years.
She said: “When I see him on telly, I feel sick.
“I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.
“Taking my child’s innocence and handing over the money for crack cocaine that could kill my child.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain9 July 2023 07:21
‘That ain’t me’: Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine respond to BBC presenter scandal
The unknown presenter is reportedly a BBC star who has been taken off air since the allegation emerged.
After the story was published, Mr Clark said: “Not sure why my names 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.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain9 July 2023 07:18
Top BBC presenter ‘stripped to underwear in video call with teen he paid for explicit pictures’
A top BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit pictures stripped to his underwear while on a video call, the mother of the alleged victim has claimed.
It is alleged that the TV star paid more than £35,000 in exchange for sexual images and that the teenager used the money to fund a cocaine addiction, which “destroyed” their life.
The mother described how her child, who was said to be 17 when the payments began, turned from a “happy-go-lucky youngster” to a “ghost-like crack addict” in three years.
Neither the presenter nor the teenager has been identified. The presenter has reportedly been taken off air over the claims.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain9 July 2023 07:15