Jeremy Vine has said the unnamed BBC presenter at the centre of allegations about his private life could be sacked following fresh claims. Speaking on his Channel Five programme, Vine, who is unconnected to the claims, urged the presenter to name himself, warning that remaining anonymous was no longer viable.
The initial allegations, reported by the Sun, were that the presenter paid a young person for explicit photos, starting when they were 17. The paper quoted a mother saying her child used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit. However, a lawyer for the young person has dismissed the accusations as “rubbish,” though the family stands by the account.
On Tuesday, the BBC published an investigation in which an individual in their 20s said they received abusive messages from the presenter. The Sun then reported that the presenter broke Covid lockdown rules to meet a 23-year-old from a dating site, sent “pressurising” messages, and requested a photo, receiving a semi-naked image. The paper also published an Instagram chat with a 17-year-old containing love heart emojis.
Vine, a BBC Radio 2 host, said the allegations had reached a “dangerous point” for the presenter. He expressed concern for the presenter’s state of mind, noting he was described as “angry and keen to play long.” Vine added that the additional claims made him think BBC director general Tim Davie “could sack him.”
The BBC has suspended its internal investigation after a virtual meeting with police. The Met Police is reviewing the claims to determine if there is evidence of a criminal offence, particularly if sexually explicit images were obtained when the young person was under 18.
