There is a small number of BBC stars and managers whose behaviour is “simply not acceptable” and which goes unaddressed, a review ordered after the Huw Edwards scandal has found.
Vowing to “draw a line in the sand” after the independent review was published on Monday, the BBC’s chair Dr Samir Shah warned that employees who “abuse power or punch down or behave badly” have no place at the corporation and will be “found out”.
Those people make life “not just difficult, but at times unbearable” for colleagues, he said.
The report, by consultancy firm Change Associates, found there was no toxic culture overall at the BBC after taking views from 2,500 staff members and freelancers, with many employees reporting that the culture has improved in recent years.
But the review, announced in August 2024 and beginning in October after presenter Edwards admitted accessing indecent images of children, and was handed a suspended prison sentence, warned that there is a “minority of people who behave unacceptably and whose behaviour is not addressed”.
“These people work in both on and off-air roles, dotted across the organisation in different functions and departments,” it said. “They are often in positions where power could be abused.
“Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC’s culture and external reputation.”
In response to the findings, the BBC said it was taking immediate action, including launching a refreshed code of conduct, with specific guidance for on-air presenters, and a more robust disciplinary policy. The broadcaster will also roll out a new “Call It Out” campaign intended to promote positive behaviour and challenge poor conduct.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “This report represents an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry. It provides clear, practical recommendations that we are committed to implementing at pace. I’m grateful to everyone who took part and contributed.
“The action we are taking today is designed to change the experience of what it is to be at the BBC for everyone and to ensure the values we all sign up to when we arrive here – the values that, for most of us, are what made us want to come to the BBC in the first place – are lived and championed by the whole organisation each and every day.”
The investigators warned that, despite the BBC showing “earnest endeavour” and “good intention” when it comes to dealing with poor behaviour from staff, there had been “inconsistent execution” in this area.
The review states: “[The BBC] documents the standards it expects from freelancers and production companies but has variable oversight of issues until they escalate. It states it has zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour, but the words do not align with the actual experience of some people working with or for the corporation.”
Warning that the BBC needs to set “clear expectations around behaviours” as it should be the “gold standard for the industry”, it adds: “Some of those who exhibit unacceptable behaviour continue to thrive, and in some cases are promoted, whilst live investigations are ongoing, or grievances against them are upheld.”
While the investigators did not specifically name anyone accused of poor behaviour, they described reports of “untouchable” staff members, echoing their own findings in a 2013 report commissioned in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
“We also heard of ‘untouchables’ who work behind the camera or microphone,” the latest review states. “The perception was that senior management would turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.”
Philippa Childs, the head of broadcasting union Bectu, said she welcomed the BBC Board’s acceptance of the recommendations and said that “repeated and historical scandals involving senior talent at the BBC exposed an organisation in need of a full rethink of its culture”.
The BBC also apologised in January to staff members who allegedly felt they had been unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand because they believed he “would always get his way”.
The following month, it apologised for having fallen “short and failed people” by not addressing “bullying and misogynistic” behaviour by former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.
Next month, MasterChef’s production company Banijay is expected to publish the findings of its review into allegations against Gregg Wallace, after the presenter was accused last year of making “highly inappropriate” comments to 13 people over a 17-year period.
Additional reporting by PA
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