The BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit pictures made panicked phone calls to them after the story was published to try and “stop the investigation”, it has been claimed.
“What have you done?”, the now-suspended TV star reportedly asked after the claims were made in The Sun last week.
An unnamed BBC star allegedly appeared in his underwear in a video call and paid more than £35,000 in exchange for sexual images.
While the family were said to have complained to the BBC on 19 May, they became frustrated that the star remained on air. The broadcaster has confirmed it received a complaint at the time but said that “new allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature”.
A spokesperson said on Sunday afternoon that the broadcaster has been in touch with the police alongside conducting its own inquiries and talking to the family of the then-teenager.
The BBC are due to meet with the Metropolitan Police today to “discuss the matter”, after director-general Tim Davie held crisis talks with Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer over the weekend.
In a statement on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said: “The Met has received initial contact from the BBC in relation to this matter but no formal referral or allegation has been made.”
