BBC urged to behave ‘very swiftly’ on express picture claims about unnamed presenter
T
he BBC has been urged to behave “very swiftly” to cope with the claims centring on an unnamed presenter alleged to have paid a youngster for sexually express pictures.
Government minister Victoria Atkins described the claims reported by the Sun as “very, very serious” as questions over the broadcaster’s dealing with of the state of affairs have been raised.
The newspaper mentioned the star paid the individual, mentioned to have been 17 when the funds started, £35,000 in trade for the pictures.
As public consideration and concern grows the BBC goes to should act very swiftly to cope with these allegations and to set out what they’re doing to analyze them
In the newest declare, the younger individual’s mom mentioned she noticed an image of the presenter on her youngster’s telephone “sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear”.
The mom mentioned she was instructed it was “a picture from some kind of video call” and appeared like he was “getting ready for my child to perform for him”.
The household have been mentioned to have complained to the BBC on May 19 however grew to become pissed off that the star remained on air. He is known to not be due on air within the close to future.
Ms Atkins, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, instructed Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “These are very, very serious allegations and the BBC have said they have processes in place.
“But as public attention and concern grows the BBC is going to have to act very swiftly to deal with these allegations and to set out what they are doing to investigate them.”
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged the broadcasters to “speed up their processes” in investigating such allegations.
The Labour MP instructed the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I do feel that I often come on this programme and we do start with another crisis at the BBC.
“The BBC do need to speed up their processes, it looks like these issues were raised in May, we’re now in July and the presenter stayed on air.
“That’s not good enough so the BBC need to get their house in order and give greater clarity to what on earth has gone on in this case and what they are trying to do to put it right.”
Former dwelling secretary Priti Patel mentioned the BBC’s response has been “derisory”.
“They must provide the victim and his family a full and transparent investigation,” she mentioned.
“The BBC which is funded by licence fee payers has become a faceless and unaccountable organisation.”
Media lawyer Mark Stephens mentioned the BBC dealing with of the criticism had been a “shambles”, arguing it had “really dropped the ball”.
“And it does seem that they’ve also caused this to escalate, because it was the frustration with the BBC not acting that led to the family to go to the Sun newspaper,” he instructed Times Radio.
“And that I think is reckless, because of course what has happened is we’ve seen all this conjecture on social media.”
Quite a few BBC stars publicly mentioned they weren’t the presenter on the centre of the allegations, amid heavy hypothesis about their identification on social media.
Gary Lineker tweeted: “Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.”
Rylan Clark wote: “Not sure why my name’s 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.”
Jeremy Vine mentioned: “Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me.”
Nicky Campbell instructed he had contacted police about being talked about on-line in reference to the story.
He tweeted a screenshot which featured the Metropolitan Police brand and the phrases: “Thank you for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service to report your crime.”
He wrote: “I think it’s important to take a stand. There’s just too many of these people on social media. Thanks for your support friends.”
If, at any level, new info involves mild or is offered – together with by way of newspapers – this shall be acted upon appropriately, consistent with inner processes
A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “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.”