The BBC, Britain’s public broadcaster, suspended a male staff member on Sunday after a report in The Sun newspaper that an unnamed male presenter had paid tens of thousands of pounds to a person from the age of 17 in exchange for ‘sexually explicit photos’. .”
The Sun has not identified the presenter and the BBC has not identified the suspended employee.
In a statement announcing the suspension, the BBC said the company “got knowledge of a complaint in May” and that “new allegations of a different nature were brought to us on Thursday”.
“The BBC takes all allegations seriously and we have robust internal processes to proactively deal with such allegations,” the company said. possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform the right next steps.”
The BBC said it expected to provide updates “in the coming days” and that the BBC board would be kept informed.
Government ministers said the BBC should act quickly in its investigation, but also urged caution.
“We have to remember that there is a young person at the center who will feel all kinds of emotions and possibly feel very upset, so please keep that person in our minds as we discuss it. this,” said Victoria Atkinsa finance minister.
That is what the Minister of Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer, said on Sunday she had spoken to the Director General of the BBC about the allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is now given the opportunity to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action.” she said on Twitter. “I will be kept informed.”
The BBC has also faced other crises in recent months.
Gary Lineker, a high-profile sports presenter, was suspended in March for criticizing Britain’s immigration policy, sparking a staff mutiny that briefly plunged the broadcaster into chaos.
Richard Sharp, the chairman of the BBC, resigned in April over his role in arranging a nearly $1 million loan for Boris Johnson when he was prime minister.
ITV, the largest ad-supported network in Britain, was also the subject of a recent scandal involving one of its top stars. Phillip Schofield, 61, a former anchor for ITV who was one of Britain’s most prominent television personalities, resigned last month after admitting to being in a relationship with a much younger man employed by the same show.
On social media over the weekend, prominent BBC presenters denied they were the subject of the allegations in The Sun’s report.
Mr Lineker, the sports anchor, said on Saturday: “I hate to disappoint the haters, but it’s not me.”
