BBC boss admits ‘there may be more things coming out’ after scandals

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Discussing the changes that have been made to how abuses of power are dealt with, Davie told MPs: ‘There are consequences, we are not mucking around now.

‘You have to be clear and you have to be fair, but if you’re not living the values, it is clear you leave the BBC or there are consequences.

‘You can see that among public figures, but that is happening internally as well.

‘It is not overwhelming, as the report says, we do not have a toxic culture.’

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On MasterChef, Davie said the ‘vast majority’ of chefs on the show wanted its latest series to air after it was shot before Christmas.

The 58-year-old was asked about one of the participants on the current series who wanted to be edited out and called for the show not to be aired amid complaints and allegations about former MasterChef presenter Wallace, and asked what message he was sending out by airing the series.

Davie replied: ‘We talked to all of them, we were very sensitive about it, the team said, “do you want to air it? Is there any other concerns you want to raise?”, and the vast, vast majority wanted it aired, so you did have that balance.

‘I think the consequences for the individuals who presented MasterChef have been very significant, they’re no longer working with the BBC, so there are those consequences.

‘The other thing in my mind is people can choose to watch it or not, so there’s an element of trust in the audience.

Gregg Wallace and John Torode were axed from MasterChef earlier this year (Picture: BBC/Shine TV)

‘In our research, overall, people supported the decision, but I don’t think it was an easy decision, I absolutely respect that view. I think it was on judgment the right thing to do, but I understand that you could see both sides of the argument very clearly.’

This week Grace Dent and Anna Haugh were announced as replacements for former judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace after they were axed from the long-running series earlier this year.

Filming for the next series – which will be the first in two decades not helmed by Wallace and Torode with the new all-female presenting lineup – is scheduled to begin imminently.

Wallace, 60, was officially sacked after the bombshell Silkins review, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK, upheld 45 out of 83 allegations against him, including a case of ‘unwelcome physical contact’.

Torode, 59, has followed him on the way out after confirming that an allegation of racist language included in the report was against him, although he claims to have no recollection of the incident.

All the scandals to rock the BBC in recent years

For the full details of these scandals see here.

Huw Edwards

In September axed top BBC news anchor Edwards was handed a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years after admitting to three charges of making indecent images of children.

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MasterChef

In July 45 out of 83 allegations detailing the behaviour of Gregg Wallace on MasterChef were upheld, and he was sacked from the show alongside John Torode, after a racist language scandal.

Strictly Come Dancing

A number of professional dancers’ behaviour has been investigated, including that of Giovanni Pernice, who was accused of ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’ behaviour and creating a ‘toxic environment’ by Amanda Abbington. He denied these claims, and six complaints of verbal – but not physical – bullying were upheld in a probe.

Fellow pro Graziano Di Prima departed from Strictly after allegations he was ‘physically and verbally abusive’ towards his former dance partner, Zara McDermott.

Then Wynne Evans became embroiled in his own scandal over comments allegedly made during the live tour. This then sparked another investigation into drug use by two different Strictly stars, which is ongoing.

Giovanni Pernice was axed from Strictly in June last year (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Jermaine Jenas

Last year, The One Show host Jermaine Jenas was dismissed with immediate effect after complaints of explicit texts sent to colleagues emerged. He admitted to sending these messages to two ‘consenting’ BBC co-workers but said there were ‘two sides to every story’ and he was going to seek legal action.

BBC Breakfast

BBC Breakfast has come under scrutiny in recent months after a spate of bullying allegations. Presenter Charlie Stayt is ‘under review’ by the broadcaster after a number of complaints were said to be made against him.

The culture at the flagship morning show is understood to be under review by an HR adviser from consultancy firm PwC after bullying allegations were levelled against co-host Naga Munchetty earlier this year.

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