BBC boss Tim Davie hasadmitted the corporation has let it self down following a number of scandals.
In an email sent to all staff, the Beeb’s Director General said the recent headlines were ‘shocking’ and there were ‘lessons we can learn’ to make the ‘strongest possibly workplace culture’.
Last week, it was revealed that Jermaine Jenas had been taken off air and sacked by the BBC after complaints were made and allegations he ‘sent unsolicited texts to a female staff member at The One Show’.
The 41-year-old former Match of the Day regular later apologised if he made the women he messaged feel uncomfortable and insisted nothing illegal happened with the ‘two consenting adults’.
The news came just weeks after former BBC presenter Huw Edwards – who quit the BBC in April after 40 years on screens, including fronting coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s death – pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, and had been arrested five months before he quit the network.
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He was previously the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of £475,000 to £479,999 for the year 2023/24 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, and other television programming, according to the corporation’s latest annual report.
As if that wasn’t enough, one of the BBC’s biggest shows has been embroiled in scandal over the last year.
Strictly Come Dancing has faced allegations against its pro dancers, with multiple former participants speaking out including Zara McDermott, Amanda Abbington, and Laura Whitmore, while staff members reportedly also complained about a ‘toxic’ work environment.
It’s now been revealed that Davie sent BBC staff an email to ‘acknowledge that this has been a demanding period for the BBC’.
In the email seen by Metro.co.uk, he wrote: ‘Aside from the challenges of delivering such brilliant output, I want to acknowledge that this has been a demanding period for the BBC and everyone who works within it.
‘The shocking news about Huw Edwards and other stories, concerning some of our high profile shows, have put the BBC in the spotlight.
‘It can be challenging for us all when the BBC becomes the headline.’
He continued: ‘I know we have all felt let down and worried about the impact on the BBC.
‘However, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and we know there will be lessons we can learn to ensure we have the strongest possible workplace culture.’
He also thanked staff for supporting the BBC and ‘navigated a tough situation’, and reportedly said he was making changing the culture at the corporation a ‘critical priority’.
This comes after Davie apologised for ‘unacceptable behaviour’ on Strictly earlier this year, amid a storm of negative stories about the culture and treatment of contestants on the flagship programme.
He told journalists that there will inevitably be ‘competitiveness, hard work and the will to do well’ on the show, ‘but there are limits and the line should never be crossed’.
He added: ‘We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.’
Addressing how he felt when the allegations first emerged about the show, he said he was ‘disappointed’.
He added: ‘I’m very sorry that anyone has had an experience on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly positive, I think that is something we do reflect on, and I’m sorry about that.’
Meanwhile, after Edwards pleaded guilty to having indecent images of children, it was revealed the BBC has asked him to repay his salary.
The broadcaster is seeking the return of the disgraced anchor’s earnings since November when he was arrested and said his crimes had brought them into ‘disrepute.’
It previously admitted it knew of his arrest on ‘suspicion of serious offences’ but continued employing him until April, when he resigned on medical advice.
Davie had previously defended the broadcaster’s decision not to sack Edwards after his November arrest, despite knowing the materials in question were in the most serious category of indecent images of children.
In an interview with the BBC, Davie later said the corporation had taken ‘difficult decisions in a fair and judicious manner’.
Metro.co.uk has approached the BBC for comment.
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