A camera is noticed outside the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) headquarters in London, Britain, March 13, 2023.
Henry Nicholls | Reuters
Britain’s BBC will confront concerns from the federal government on Sunday about its managing of an allegation that 1 of its star presenters compensated a teenager thousands of lbs to pose for sexually specific shots commencing when they were 17 a long time previous.
A federal government assertion reported that Tradition Secretary Lucy Frazer would keep urgent talks with the broadcaster’s director standard, Tim Davie, later on Sunday about the allegations, which the assertion explained as “deeply regarding”.
The Sun newspaper, which initial described the allegations, cited the youthful person’s mother as stating the unnamed male presenter had compensated the teen much more than 35,000 lbs . ($45,000) more than a few many years for the photos.
The mom instructed the newspaper that the teen had employed the funds to fund a crack cocaine behavior.
The loved ones complained to the broadcaster on May possibly 19, but the presenter was not right away taken off air, in accordance to the Sunshine, which mentioned the relatives had not asked for payment for their tale.
The BBC, which is funded by a license charge paid by each Tv set-looking at home, stated in a assertion: “We treat any allegations quite very seriously and we have procedures in put to proactively deal with them.”
The broadcaster claimed its procedures incorporated “actively trying to converse to people who have contacted us in get to seek out further more depth and being familiar with of the predicament”.
“If we get no reply to our tries or obtain no more make contact with that can limit our ability to development points but it does not signify our enquiries cease.
“If, at any place, new facts arrives to light-weight or is presented – like through newspapers – this will be acted upon properly, in line with interior processes,” it stated.