The BBC announced on Sunday that it had contacted authorities and suspended a presenter after allegations that he had paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos.
Lucy Frazer, the UK culture minister, stated earlier that she discussed the “deeply concerning” allegations with BBC Director General Tim Davie, who assured her that the BBC is “investigating swiftly and sensitively.”
The Sun newspaper, which broke the story first, quoted the young person’s mother as saying that an unnamed BBC presenter who has been suspended now paid her child more than £35,000 ($45,000) over a three-year period for the images.
It is also claimed that the presenter in question appeared on air for a month after the family of the young person – who was said to be 17 at the time of the payments – complained to the BBC in May.
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The BBC confirmed that it “first became aware of a complaint in May” in a statement issued on Sunday.
“New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols,” it added.
The statement said that “a male member of staff has been suspended”.
“This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps,” the BBC added.
London’s Metropolitan Police released a statement later on Sunday confirming the BBC contacted it over the matter, “but no formal referral or allegation has been made”.
“We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow,” it added.
The BBC said it takes “any allegations seriously” and has “robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations”.
In an internal email sent to staff and quoted on the BBC website, Tim Davie said he is “wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumors being made on the internet about some of our presenting talents”.
Since the allegations were published in The Sun, some BBC presenters have taken to social media to deny being the broadcaster in question.
The British broadcaster, whose chairman resigned in April after an investigation found he failed to disclose a loan to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been chastised for its handling of the claim.
Priti Patel, a former home secretary and Conservative Party MP has called the BBC’s response “derisory,” adding, “They must provide the victim and his family with a full and transparent investigation.”
“The BBC, but also other broadcasters, do need to get a grip because we seem to lurch from one scandal to another and more needs to be done,” opposition Labour Party lawmaker Rachel Reeves told Sky News on Sunday.
Phillip Schofield, a British TV host, resigned from ITV in May after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger colleague.
