The BBC has only discussed the claims around the presenter alleged to have paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for explicit sexual pictures with police but has not yet made any formal report, a senior BBC source has told i.
Earlier on Sunday i revealed that the Metropolitan Police was not investigating the allegations, which involve a well-known male presented being accused of paying a young person £35,000 for sexual images form when they were 17.
The highly paid presenter, who has not been named, has now been suspended.
Despite reports emerging that the claims have been reported to New Scotland Yard, a BBC source said: “We alerted relevant people, including the police, that there may be something we need further contact on and that this will happen sooner rather than later.
“It is correct to say we have been in touch the police, but also correct that no formal investigation by the Met is underway.”
Following the suspension of the presenter on Sunday afternoon, the BBC said: “The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May. New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.”
Earlier on Sunday the Met confirmed that it had not received any report of the allegations against the presenter.
A spokesman for the Met said: “As far as we’re aware there have been no reports to the Met and there is no Met investigation.”
By Sunday evening the Met confirmed the BBC source’s version of events.
“The Met has received initial contact from the BBC in relation to this matter but no formal referral or allegation has been made,” said the Met spokesman.
“We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.”
The star has been accused of paying the young person money in exchange for explicit sexual images, with the money going to fund a drug addiction.
The BBC has appointed a former detective who specialises in whistleblowing, sexual assault and fraud to lead its investigation into the claims.
Jeff Brown is the head of the broadcaster’s corporate investigations and is understood to have met the family making the allegations on Friday.
Mr Brown is understood to have prepared a dossier of evidence that will be discussed in a meeting with Met officers on Monday
The family says they complained to the BBC on 19 May and approached The Sun newspaper after the star continued to appear on TV.
The newspaper reported that the young person’s mother saw a picture of the presenter on her child’s phone in which he was “sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear”.
She said she was told it was “a picture from some kind of video call”.
In an internal memo to BBC staff, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex. I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent.
“We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate.”
In its latest public statement on the latest crisis to hit the broadcaster the BBC also wrote: “We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.
“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.
“We expect to be in a position to provide a further update in the coming days as the process continues. The BBC board will continue to be kept up to date.”
