DJ Dave Lee Travis fondled me on air, claims newsreader
THE BBC sex abuse scandal deepened last night after two former employees claimed former Radio 1 star Dave Lee Travis groped them in the corporation’s studios. One of the women, who was just 17 at the time, claims that the DJ put his hand up her skirt in 1977.
The other, Vivien Creegor – who went on to become a presenter on Sky News – has claimed Travis ‘jiggled her breasts’ when she was live on Radio 4 in the 1980s.
The unnamed woman has already given a statement to police while Miss Creegor has said she will be making a complaint to the BBC’s director-general George Entwistle.
The allegations come after the corporation announced on Friday that it was launching an inquiry – separate to the Sir Jimmy Savile investigation – into the BBC’s ‘culture’ at the time.
It follows allegations by presenters, including Liz Kershaw and Sandi Toksvig, that they were routinely groped by male colleagues.
Travis, who hosted the Radio 1 Breakfast Show from 1978 to 1980, yesterday said in a statement: ‘I categorically deny that there is any substance in either allegation and I’m genuinely surprised that allegations of this nature have been made. I totally refute any impropriety.’
Miss Creegor yesterday said she was a Radio 4 newsreader at Broadcasting House, in Portland Place, when the alleged incident took place.
The 55-year-old said: ‘I was sitting in the Radio 4 studio, which at the time backed on to the studio where Dave did his show. I could see him coming into the studio.
‘I indicated to him to sit down but... as I went to speak his hands clamped down on my boobs over my jumper and moved them around. I didn’t have a choice. I
‘That was the culture of the BBC at the time’
couldn’t say anything to him because I had to finish my [Woman’s Hour] announcement. When I had, he sat down and started talking as if nothing had happened.’
Miss Creegor, who lives in Hampstead, North London, with her husband, said she was too scared to speak up at the time for fear of ‘rocking the boat’. ‘I was in my early twenties and I was on an apprenticeship with the BBC, and I didn’t want to report a huge star like Dave Lee Travis,’ she added.
‘No woman who valued her career would have been happy to put her name down on a harassment claim.
‘You could say I was cowardly but, when I told someone, they just laughed it off and thought it was funny – that was the climate at the BBC at the time.’
The second woman – who has not waived her right to anonymity – says Travis put his hand down her skirt in 1977.
Sussex Police confirmed she made a statement on Saturday. She has also complained to the BBC. The woman said Travis groped her after inviting her into his studio to help him select the next music track.
‘I went in. He turned off the lights so the technical operator couldn’t see what he was doing through the glass.
‘He started grinding his groin into me. I didn’t know what was happening. I was still a virgin and I didn’t like it.
‘He held me tighter and put his hand up my skirt and ... in to my knickers.
‘That’s when I pulled away and ran out of the door. Afterwards, I felt embarrassed and dirty. ‘I went back to the technical operator and said: “You won’t believe what he’s just done”.’
‘The operator said, jokingly: “I thought you were being a bit brave going in there”.’
After interviewing Travis earlier this year, Sunday Times reporter Camilla Long described how ‘I don’t think there was a part of my body he did not grope’.
She added: ‘He fondled my foot, inched his hands up my thighs, tried to make me sit on his lap and kissed me.’ The BBC said: ‘We are not able to comment on individual names but where allegations are made they will be passed on to the BBC Investigations Unit or police.’