Huw Edwards scandal: BBC ‘in contact’ with household of particular person at centre of express images allegations – company boss Tim Davie

BBC boss Tim Davie says the company has been in contact with the household of an individual on the centre of allegations surrounding Huw Edwards.

Speaking at a pre-arranged Lords Communications Committee session on Tuesday, the director-general mentioned: “We have been in touch with the complainant, we want to be engaged and appropriately listening and understanding their concern”.

The BBC has confronted accusations it didn’t reply rapidly sufficient to complaints from the household of the younger particular person, after it took seven weeks for allegations to be put to Huw Edwards.

Mr Davie was additionally requested about holding the BBC’s high-paid expertise to account, responding: “I think the the history of this industry is such that we should all be concerned and appropriately diligent around the abuse of people in powerful positions”.

He added: “You need to ensure that you’re very, very clear on what your expectations are culturally, as well as the policy.”

He went on to say he was “proud” of the companies code of conduct and values, calling the whistleblowing course of by which employees can confidentially report considerations to an exterior assist at work line “a safe place”.

He additionally confirmed to friends that top profile presenters on the company have a clause of their contract about not bringing the BBC into disrepute.

Mr Edwards, who’s the BBC’s highest incomes newsreader – was accused of paying a teen 1000’s of kilos for sexually express images.

‘Very improper instructions’

Acting chairwoman of the BBC Dame Elan Closs Stephens informed friends regardless of “huge pressure” to call the presenter on the coronary heart of the scandal, the company “had a duty to act with some calm and rationality in the face of lack of rationality and lack of calm”.

She mentioned that responsibility of care was each to Mr Edwards, the younger particular person and the younger particular person’s household concerned “in this maelstrom”.

She went on: “I was on the one hand seeking to establish the right of the board to oversee what was happening, but at the same time, I was trying my best to make for a calm and rational discussion of the issue before we all got carried away in what could have been very wrong directions.”

The household of the younger particular person had initially complained to the BBC in May, however allegations weren’t put to the presenter, or flagged to senior executives – together with Mr Davie – till seven weeks later.

Appeal for info

Mr Davie, together with appearing chairwoman Dame Elan Closs Stephens and coverage director Clare Sumner, confronted questions in regards to the “adequacy” of the company’s governance preparations and was requested to present updates on the progress of two stories, following the controversy.

The BBC is finishing up “fact-finding investigations” into Mr Edwards, in addition to a evaluate to “assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation”.

Elaborating on the BBC’s basic complaints course of, he mentioned a severe allegation can be handed on to its company investigations crew the place it will be assessed by “very experienced people”, and that from there “it could lead to a fact finding and disciplinary or it might go to the authorities, or it might be dropped”.

Read extra:
Who is Huw Edwards?
Was The Sun proper to publish allegations?
What associates and colleagues have mentioned about Huw Edwards

When are stories due?

Addressing fact-finding probe into Mr Edwards, Mr Davie highlighted the “difficult concerns” concerned and appealed for anybody with info to get in contact, saying: “We’re keen to receive any information because we just want to understand anything that’s out there”.

Mr Davie mentioned the report “could take weeks or it could take a couple of months, or even longer.”

With regard to the second evaluate of the BBC’s protocols and procedures, Mr Davie mentioned: “We are doing that work immediately,” including that it will be delivered in “the autumn, maybe late autumn”.

It can be led by Simon Cuerden, a forensic accomplice at Deloitte and Sir Nick Serota, a senior unbiased director on the BBC.

Original allegations

Allegations that Huw Edwards paid a teen greater than £35,000 for sexually express images have been first printed in The Sun on Friday 7 July. The paper didn’t identify him on the time.

Five days later, the Metropolitan Police mentioned they didn’t imagine any legal exercise had taken place and can be taking no additional motion.

Following intense hypothesis over the id of the BBC presenter, Edwards’ spouse, Vicky Flind, confirmed him as the person on the centre of the allegations.

In a press release, she mentioned he was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was “receiving in-patient hospital care”.

The Sun – who say they by no means alleged criminality – say they don’t have any plans to publish additional allegations in opposition to Edwards.

The younger particular person on the centre of the controversy has mentioned – by way of their lawyer – that their mom’s claims are “rubbish,” and that “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” has taken place.

Edwards, who has since been suspended, can also be going through separate allegations from a number of different individuals of their early 20s.

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At the weekend, Sir Tony Blair informed Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the BBC ought to “stand up for itself more” when requested about its response to the state of affairs.

As the face of BBC News At 10, the 61-year-old has beforehand led election evening protection, and broke the information of Queen Elizabeth II’s dying. He was final on air on Wednesday 5 July, overlaying King Charles’ go to to Scotland.

Some have questioned The Sun’s determination to publish the unique story, and the stability between publishing within the public curiosity versus the correct to privateness has been thrust firmly into the highlight.