BBC sacks Asian Network DJ in row over lewd phone messages

THE BBC has fired a star Asian Network radio host in a row over racist and sexual slurs – and fears an embarrassing employment tribunal.

Tommy Sandhu, pictured – who also fronted BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live – was suspended last month when it emerged he was part of vile phone messaging groups.

At least four Asian Network staff had used the WhatsApp messaging service to share sexual comments about female colleagues, as well as homophobic slurs and a derogatory term for Pakistanis.

The BBC refused to confirm Mr Sandhu had been sacked, but said allegations of inappropriate behaviour were always taken extremely seriously.

BBC insiders are braced for an embarrassing unfair dismissal case.

Mr Sandhu, 40, said: ‘At this stage I am taking legal advice, but I want to underline that at no point did I engage, comment or reply to any racist comment on any WhatsApp group.’

Mr Sandhu claimed he was being punished for failing to police comments by others in the group.

WhatsApp is encrypted but these messages were accidentally linked to a BBC laptop where they were found by assistant producer Amanpreet Kaur, about whom the men had made sexist comments.

While Mr Sandhu was initially suspended, the Corporation got rid of two of the other men, while a fourth was allowed to stay with a written warning.