BBC ‘SEX PESTS’ PROBE
String of harassment claims made Radio 5 Live star Riley suspended
THE BBC has launched an investigation after a string of women claimed they have been victims of sex pests.
Radio 5 Live star George Riley was suspended and another worker is also being quizzed.
A source said: “We have been running a campaign and new allegations have come to light.”
BBC chiefs are braced for a flood of further sex pest claims after urging victims to come forward in the wake of Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein scandal, sources claim.
The corporation is already investigating two of its broadcasters and has uncovered a string of harassment accusations against male workers.
On Friday, Radio 5 Live Breakfast star George Riley, 39, was suspended while the probe takes place.
He is reported to be the subject of complaints from five women. The second person has not been named.
BBC sources said other claims are being looked into and more staff could be investigated in the coming weeks.
One said: “We have been running an internal campaign with staff in the light of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, saying if they have issues they can report them.
“Emails were sent to all staff saying how they can raise issues and now new allegations including those against these two men have come to light. We think in the light of Weinstein all organisations, especially those in the entertainment industry should be saying are they doing enough so people can come forward if they have problems or harassment.
“People should be doing everything they can and we don’t think we will be the only ones with issues to address.”
Deputy director-general Anne Bulford sent several emails to staff asking victims to come forward.
In one, she wrote: “There’s been a lot of coverage recently about bullying and harassment in the entertainment industry, and more broadly.
“We have a duty of care to protect you, one we take extremely seriously. I want
to remind you what to do if you want to raise concerns. Please be assured that we will continue to handle any issues raised sensitively.”
Insiders claim BBC director-general Tony Hall is determined to be proactive in his approach to cracking down on sex harassment. Riley commentates on rugby league and was due to be anchoring coverage of the World Cup for Radio 5 Live.
But he was absent from the coverage of the Wales match against Papua New Guinea on Saturday. It is not known when he will return. Riley also presents rugby league, darts and snooker for BBC TV and radio. He is thought to have been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry. Yesterday, he declined to comment. Some of the women came forward to make allegations against Riley after discussing harassment with senior colleagues such as Mishal Husain and Victoria Derbyshire. The pair are not victims of sex pests.
But they are among a number of females who have teamed up to work together on a number of issues. She said: “Our group acts as a forum which many of us wish had existed earlier in our careers which discusses a wide range of issues, offering support and advice where necessary.”
But she insisted it was not focussed solely on sex pests or “targeting individuals”. It is thought to be primarily fighting the gender pay gap.
The investigation comes just a few years after the Jimmy Savile scandal, where the pervert was allowed to carry out a string of sickening sex crimes while working at the Beeb.
It is thought some complaints were made about Riley as part of the 2013 Respect at Work Review carried out in the wake of that sick episode.
Earlier this month, US-based BBC correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan claimed she was a target of sexual harassment by three colleagues.
The Beeb said last night: “We can’t comment on individuals but treat any allegations seriously.”
We have a duty of care to protect you, one we take very seriously ANNE BULFORD BBC BOSS IN EMAIL TO STAFF
BBC bosses have a public duty to take a tough line with any big-name men accused of behaving badly towards female staff, particularly when the national broadcaster is reporting serious allegations against a string of male politicians.
Too often in the past the corporation’s high-minded policy statements and declarations of equality seemed to count for little amid complaints. Scandals were hushed-up or ignored, with victims claiming they weren’t believed or actively shunned.
So we trust the soul-searching triggered by the Jimmy Savile earthquake means all complaints are taken seriously, with detailed inquiries and rigorous procedures establishing the truth, and with the accused entitled to a fair hearing to establish guilt or innocence.
The BBC must be able to do better than a Conservative Party whose buck-passing leader is losing what was left of her reputation.
Theresa May shows the bias of a Prime Minister who has lost her moral compass as she tolerates tawdry behaviour by Conservatives while condemning Labour failings.