A BBC presenter allegedly broke the wrist of a female colleague during an incident in 2014, with claims that BBC bosses covered up the attack by assigning the presenter “undesirable” shifts instead of reporting it to the police or taking disciplinary action.
Alleged Assault Ignored
A source told the Mail on Sunday the male presenter grabbed the woman’s wrists, crossed them, and threw her to the floor. A doctor’s report confirmed the injury, but no action was taken by BBC management.
BBC Cover-up Accusations
Despite being aware of the assault allegations, BBC chiefs reportedly chose not to escalate the matter to the authorities. Instead, they hoped the presenter would resign voluntarily while continuing to employ him for several years afterwards.
Additional Behaviour Concerns
The same presenter was also called in by bosses multiple times over reported concerns about alcohol and drug use, raised by make-up artists. He was later arrested over an unrelated matter but released without charge.
Public And Political Backlash
Conservative MP Greg Stafford criticised the BBC’s handling, stating it was unacceptable for the broadcaster to overlook serious assault allegations instead of involving the police. He said the corporation’s record on cover-ups made the lack of action unsurprising but inexcusable.
Wider Organisational Issues
This incident adds to recent scrutiny of the BBC’s response to allegations against its high-profile figures, including Jimmy Savile, Huw Edwards, and Scott Mills. Insiders claim the broadcaster’s focus on protecting its reputation has led to failure in addressing misconduct promptly and transparently. A BBC spokeswoman said: “While we do not comment on individual employment matters, the BBC has robust processes in place to uphold our standards.” She also confirmed the male employee linked to the allegations has since left the organisation.
