Drug dealers ‘drop in monthly to sell cocaine at the BBC’

AS the announcer on Strictly Come Dancing and the National Lottery results show, he’s been a reassuring voice to millions.

Yesterday, however, Alan Dedicoat’s words took on a more sinister tone.

In a secret recording, the broadcaster is heard alleging that drug dealers make monthly drop-offs of narcotics directly to the desks of his BBC colleagues.

Dedicoat, 60, claimed some BBC security staff are ‘in’ on the ploy and turn a blind eye to cocaine and ecstasy being smuggled into the building.

Since the recording was obtained by The Sun and made public, Dedicoat has tried to take back the remarks – but they echo previous controversies around the Corporation’s ‘drug culture’.

Last night, sources close to the BBC told the Daily Mail that while claims of a drug dealer going desk to desk might be exaggerated, substance abuse does take place. They added that ‘powder parties’ were not unheard of and some had seen staff, sometimes holding senior positions, take cocaine. A source added: ‘It’s well-known that this goes on.’

On the unnamed dealer’s dangerous gambit, Dedicoat said during the covertly-taped private conversation: ‘The police can do nothing about the fact that he’s delivering desk to desk.’

On the prevalence of drugs at the BBC, he added: ‘Well, they are recreational items of interest, I think you’ll find, that’s the way we categorise them.’

The drugs delivered reportedly varied according to the pay grade of the buyer.

Dedicoat claimed: ‘ Es for the lower grades, then whoever can afford it – goes up. It’s the business we’re in.’

And far from condemning the practice, when he was asked if drugs were ‘rife’ at the BBC, Dedicoat reportedly responded: ‘You say rife like it’s horrible and wrong. He only comes in because it stops him being intercepted by the police.’

During his 36 years at the BBC, Dedicoat has worked as a Radio 2 newsreader and as TV’s voice of the National Lottery draw. The voiceover artist made no suggestion he had bought or taken drugs himself, nor did he say where or when the alleged crimes took place.

This is not the first time there have been allegations of widespread drug use at the BBC.

In 2000, the then-culture secretary Chris Smith was presented with evidence that Radio 1 was riddled with cocaine users.

The accusations came from record producer Robin Millar, who claimed a ‘cocaine clique’ had control of the station. He told a newspaper at the time: ‘If you’re not in that clique who take cocaine and who have been sucked into the superstar lifestyle that goes with it, you are out in the cold.

‘The cocaine culture is based around a number of key players, top DJs and BBC executives.’

Dedicoat said in a statement: ‘There is no truth to what I said. I was foolishly embellishing upon rumours I was aware of dating from 20 or 30 years ago in relation to the commercial radio sector. I have no personal knowledge of these matters and have absolutely no reason to believe that the activities referred to in the edited extract of this covertly-recorded

‘It’s well-known that this goes on’

conversation take place or have ever taken place at the BBC.’

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Alan has said himself there is no truth in any of the allegations.’