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Reports that disgraced Go Compare frontman Wynne Evans was carpeted by his BBC bosses over a sex toy video as well as being axed from the airwaves (including his BBC Radio Wales (RW) show) because of his behaviour, highlight once more the corporation’s REFUSAL to answer our questions over how many programmes cannot now be transmitted.
Video footage obtained by The Sun on Sunday (SoS), reveal that Mr Evans apparently sent a sex toy to EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick. It was filmed just two days after Mr Evans was recorded making a vile sexual comment about pro dancer Janette Manrara, and sees Mr Borthwick explaining that the toy was sent to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena reception by Mr Evans.
The news about the incident broke after Mr Evans had been recorded crudely suggesting the three-way sex session with Ms Manrara using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’ during a photocall for the then forthcoming Strictly Live Tour. Mr Evans was forced to apologise soon afterwards, and declared that he had made an “inappropriate and unacceptable” remark.
The alarming details about the sex toy video presented challenging headlines for the BBC in UK newspapers, but this is not the first time that the organisation has made news for the wrong reasons.
The Mail on Sunday (MoS) said, the corporation must attempt “to recover from a string of scandals”, although it apparently does not wish to talk about them with The Eye.
Queries were sent before Christmas but apart from automated messages saying the request for information had been received, there has been no response whatsoever, even though they had directly followed the alarming Gregg Wallace business.
As with Mr Evans, it was reported that Mr Wallace was stepping back (although it may not have been entirely voluntary for Mr Evans), but in this case it was from his role on MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct were looked into.
An investigation by BBC News revealed that he is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people who worked with him over a 17-year period.
Channel 5 was also examining accusations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the presenter while making the programme ‘Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends’ in 2019.
More alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’ came to light afterwards, and BBC News has reported about the corporation: “It’s the last thing it needs, so soon after other high profile scandals including the disgraced BBC News presenter Huw Edwards. The BBC has questions to answer about the allegations over what it knew about Wallace’s behaviour on and off set, and – if it was alerted to these types of allegations – what it did about them. BBC News has been made aware of two occasions when complaints were made. One, by the radio host Aasmah Mir, related to Celebrity MasterChef in 2017.”
One Welsh former senior executive with the corporation said to The Eye earlier: “The BBC is attempting to display decisiveness after the Huw Edwards & Savile scandals to help restore its public image. It’s cosmetic.
On the Wallace incident it was claimed that we saw: “Another slap on the wrist from weak executives who’re afraid to sack talent & put ratings first. He’s finished and the Beeb managers who let him carry on should be fired”.
All of this came on the back of many other terrible events where the BBC has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
We have had the Amanda Abbington/Giovanni Pernice incident on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, involving accusations of bullying and harassment.
There has also been the One Show and Match of the Day (MotD) presenter Jermaine Jenas episode, where once again there have been allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’, with reports saying, for example, that one female member of staff received unsolicited communications via text from him.
We have been treated to the Huw Edwards affair, and the Jimmy Savile scandal (which the former executive mentioned), with the full extent of what Savile did only emerging relatively recently.
All of these incidents have prompted front page news about the BBC in UK papers. The allegations concerning Mr Evans may be the latest, but we’ll start with the information about Ms Abbington – the BBC says it assessed and “upheld some, but not all” of her complaints about her time on Strictly, after she pulled out of the show last year and claimed later that there was a “toxic environment”, as well as that she had been subject to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”.
In saying sorry, the huge corporation proclaimed: “We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made. We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do”.
It also said in the apology statement that the BBC expects “…very high standards…”, so critics are entitled to ask why they apparently do not exist in the Media Office (MO), especially after the Mr Evans affair.
Mr Jenas, too, faced claims of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and was sacked from the BBC over allegedly sending the ‘unsolicited’ texts to junior members of staff. Reports have claimed that one female worker received unsolicited communications via text from him which were supposedly ‘flirty’. Others then came forward according to The Sun. However, the source added there was “no suggestion of illegality” on Mr Jenas’s part.
Let’s not forget the incredible Jay Blades business. The Repair Shop star was accused of illegal acts in relation to his estranged wife, with the allegations including physical and emotional abuse, according to court documents. He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court and was bailed until another court appearance. West Mercia Police (WMP) said he was charged after they were called to an address last year, following an Instagram post by Lisa Zbozen. A repeat of David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed was removed and the BBC will not show any programmes in which he features. He pleaded not guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.
We have also had Russell Brand. Last week he was granted bail after appearing in court charged with sexual offences including rape.
He is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area, who alleges that after meeting him at a theatrical performance and chatting to him later in her hotel room, she returned from the toilet to find he’d removed some of his clothes. She claims he asked her to take photos of him, and then raped her.
The court also heard of another alleged victim, who has accused him of indecently assaulting her in 2001 by “grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet” at a TV station.
He is also accused of the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman he met in 2004 in London, who has accused him of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet.
The final complainant is a radio worker who has raised the accusation of being sexually assaulted between 2004 and 2005 by enduring “kissing” and “grabbing” of her breasts and buttocks.
The comedian, actor and author has denied all the accusation, saying that he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”. He must appear at the Old Bailey on May 30.
After everything that has happened, it seemed reasonable, therefore, to ask the BBC which programmes could not now be transmitted.
This is the (extremely polite) request our Editor, Welshman Phil Parry, put to their MO on December 19, and he was encouraged because on the BBC’s website it is declared: “Enquiries from journalists will be responded to as quickly as possible”.
Hello.
I am Editor of a news website called The Eye.
Could you please answer the following questions:
1. In the light of the Gregg Wallace, and other affairs, what, if any, programmes are now not to be transmitted, and how many of them are there?
2. What, if any, changes have been made to your Whistleblowers’ Charter, and what are the dates of these?
3. What, if any, changes have been made to your safeguarding policies, and what are the dates of these?
Statements can be made by return to this address – it is checked constantly and is totally secure.
Thank you,
Phil Parry
To date, though, there has been no reply apart from two automated messages saying that the requests had been received.
Perhaps these sort of questions are too difficult to handle, especially after it’s now reported BBC bosses may have blasted Mr Evans over a sex toy video…
The memories of Phil’s, astonishing award-winning career in journalism (including some of the immediate responses from MOs) as he was gripped by the rare neurological disabling condition, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), have been released in a major book ‘A GOOD STORY’. Order the book now!
Tomorrow – during that career (when he was trained to use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon), Phil has always watched transfixed as important individuals plunge in popularity, and their fall often came in the full glare of publicity.
Now this is underlined by news that despite what he says Elon Musk’s business interests may be in trouble, and this could be connected with his closeness to Donald Trump.
