The barrister leading an independent review of concerns regarding Tim Westwood’s conduct during his two decades at the BBC has extended the deadline for evidence.
Gemma White KC was appointed by the BBC in August after an internal review of allegations against the DJ found that the corporation may have missed chances to explore concerns raised over the behaviour of the former Radio 1 and Capital Xtra DJ.
The BBC has appointed Jahnine Davis, one of the UK’s leading specialists in the safeguarding of Black children, to help with the review.
The internal and independent reviews follow an investigation by the Guardian and BBC News in April in which seven women accused Westwood, 65, of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour. He denied all the allegations, with a spokesperson saying they were “completely false” and there had never been any complaints against him “officially or unofficially”.
White thanked the people who had come forward so far and acknowledged that for many it had been a difficult decision.
“Others who have written or spoken to me have wondered whether the information they have to contribute is relevant, or sufficiently important – and my answer to that is, simply, yes,” she said. “It is important to me that I hear from everyone who wishes to speak and I have therefore decided to extend the period for people to get in touch.”
She urged people who may be unsure about getting in touch to reach out so she could address any concerns. “I understand that revisiting experiences can be very difficult and want to do all I can to make the process as comfortable for you as possible,” she said.
Ten more women made claims of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour against Westwood in a further joint investigation in July. The report included a claim from a woman who said Westwood first had sex with her when she was 14 and he was in his 30s, in the early 1990s. Westwood did not respond when contacted about the allegations.
The BBC admitted in July that it had received six complaints of alleged bullying and sexual misconduct relating to when the DJ was an employee, some of them received after publication of the first Guardian/BBC News stories.
After almost 20 years, Westwood left the BBC in 2013. He moved to Capital Xtra, but after the allegations in April his employer Global said he was stepping down from the show “until further notice”. In July, a source at Global said Westwood no longer worked for the organisation and had not done so since the Guardian and BBC published the initial story in April.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact the review on GWKCBBCReview@blackstonechambers.com, or by post, marked for the attention of Gemma White KC BBC Review, to Linklaters LLP, One Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8HQ. Respondents can request a meeting with Gemma White and ask for Jahnine Davis to be present.
