Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has said BBC director-general Tim Davie has assured her the corporation is “investigating swiftly and sensitively” into allegations that an unnamed presenter paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.
Ms Frazer described the allegations reported by The Sun newspaper as “deeply concerning” and said the broadcaster now needs to be given space to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
Her comments come after the Culture Secretary urgently spoke to Mr Davie on Sunday as the BBC comes under pressure over its handling of the complaint.
I have spoken to BBC Director General Tim Davie about the deeply concerning allegations involving one of its presenters. He has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively.
— Lucy Frazer (@lucyfrazermp) July 9, 2023
Following the phone call, she tweeted: “I have spoken to BBC director-general Tim Davie about the deeply concerning allegations involving one of its presenters.
“He has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively.”
She added: “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. I will be kept updated.”
The newspaper said the BBC star paid the person, said to have been 17 when the payments began, £35,000 in exchange for the images.
A DCMS spokeswoman previously said: “These allegations are deeply concerning.
“As a public service broadcaster in receipt of public funding, senior officials have stressed to the BBC that the allegations must be investigated urgently and sensitively, with the department kept informed.”
