Kaye Adams Opens Up About BBC Departure Following Disciplinary Investigation
Kaye Adams has emotionally broken her silence after being axed from her £155,000-per-year BBC Radio show, admitting she 'just wants to get her life back on track.' The presenter, 63, spoke candidly about the ordeal in a new episode of her How To Be 60 podcast, describing the past five months as 'brutal' following her suspension and subsequent departure from the broadcaster.
Disciplinary Probe Findings and Allegations
On Friday, it was reported that a disciplinary investigation found Adams guilty of inappropriate behaviour. The probe upheld three misconduct complaints against her, including allegations that she swore at a colleague using offensive language, threw a pen at a producer in frustration, and berated an intern's professional ability. However, two separate complaints of bullying were not upheld by the investigation.
Sources close to Adams have strongly criticized the decision to terminate her contract, calling it 'sexist and a stitch-up' that 'didn't make sense' given her 15-year tenure at BBC Scotland without previous issues. One insider questioned the timing of allegations, noting that the offensive language incident allegedly occurred more than a decade ago and was dealt with at the time.
Adams' Emotional Response and Personal Impact
In her podcast, Adams fought back tears as she discussed the personal toll of the situation. 'It's been a brutal five months, there's no doubt about it,' she shared. 'I'm torn between not wanting to appear to ignore things, but also I just don't see a lot of point in saying much at this time. This is a time to process things, try and get life back on track, try and get my mental health back on track, try and get my eating back on track, my sleeping back on track, and just my life back on track.'
The presenter emphasized her focus on family, mentioning her partner Ian and her daughters. 'For the sake of Ian and the kids, I'm gonna just stick to that at the moment and just gather myself. I think that's the best thing to do,' she explained. Adams described a recent visit to Edinburgh to see her daughters as particularly meaningful, noting she hadn't been 'as present for them as they're used to, which has been a real sadness.'
Background and Broader BBC Context
Adams was suspended from BBC Scotland on October 7 last year while the investigation took place. She had presented her own phone-in show, Call Kaye, before it transitioned to 'Mornings with...' which she hosted several times weekly. Despite her BBC departure, Adams remains a regular panellist and presenter on ITV's Loose Women, with the program stating it continues to stand by her.
The disciplinary action against Adams occurred within a broader context of BBC workplace reforms. The corporation recently launched an anti-harassment campaign called 'Call It Out' encouraging employees to report unacceptable conduct. This initiative followed an independent report into BBC workplace culture that found some stars and managers 'behave unacceptably' with insufficient management intervention.
BBC chairman Samir Shah has publicly addressed workplace behaviour concerns, stating: 'After today, let me state it clearly, if you think you're too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.'
Support and Industry Reaction
Several colleagues have expressed support for Adams since her suspension, including fellow presenters Denise Welch and Nadia Sawalha. Some individuals who have worked with Adams over the years have reportedly written to the BBC urging reconsideration of her dismissal.
Insiders suggest the action against Adams followed observations by new BBC Scotland radio boss Victoria Easton-Riley, appointed in May 2025, who witnessed concerning behaviour during a team meeting. Easton-Riley has implemented several programming changes since her appointment, including replacing the long-running Good Morning Scotland with Radio Scotland Breakfast.
Adams continues to host her weekly How to Be 60 podcast with Karen MacKenzie, where she has previously discussed the stress of the BBC investigation. Last month, she admitted to losing weight and 'not feeling like eating,' while earlier telling the Mail on Sunday her name had been 'dragged through the mud.'
