Britain’s BBC broadcaster was questioned by the government on Sunday over its handling of an allegation that one of its star presenters paid a teenager thousands of pounds to pose for sexually explicit photos, starting when he was 17.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held urgent talks with the station’s CEO Tim Davie on Sunday about the allegations, which she described as “deeply concerning”.
“(Davie) has assured me that the BBC is investigating swiftly and sensitively,” he said on Twitter.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC now has the space to carry out its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action.”
The Sun newspaper, which first reported the allegations, quoted the teen’s mother as saying the unnamed presenter had paid the teen more than £35,000 ($45,000) over three years for the footage.
The mother told the newspaper that the teen had used the cash to finance a crack habit.
The family complained to the station on May 19, but the presenter was not immediately taken off the air, according to the Sun, which said the family had not requested payment for his story.
The BBC, which is funded by a license fee paid by each TV-watching household, said in a statement: “We treat any allegations very seriously and have processes in place to deal with them proactively.”
The station said its processes included “actively trying to speak to those who contacted us to seek further details and understanding of the situation.”
“If we don’t get a response to our attempts or no further contact, that may limit our ability to progress, but it doesn’t mean our inquiries will stop.
“If, at any time, new information comes to light or is provided, even through newspapers, appropriate action will be taken, in accordance with internal processes,” he said.
