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Admissions in a ‘bombshell’ interview that disgraced television star Gregg Wallace contemplated suicide over claims that he was a sex pest, and a worrying report into what has happened at the BBC generally, shine the spotlight again on the corporation’s determination NOT to answer questions over how many programmes cannot now be broadcast, despite the fact that our Editor, Welshman Phil Parry, had worked at the corporation for 23 years, and they proclaim: “Enquiries from journalists will be responded to as quickly as possible”.
In Mr Wallace’s first in-depth interview, since allegations about his behaviour emerged, he said that he had received “a tidal wave of abuse” on social media after posting a video on Instagram hitting out at his accusers, insisting about the charges that “they’re not all true”.
However a BBC News investigation revealed accusations of inappropriate sexual comments by 13 people who had worked with Mr Wallace across a range of shows, over a 17-year-period. Since then, further claims of ‘groping’ and ‘touching’ have emerged, all of which Mr Wallace has strenuously denied. MasterChef’s production company, Banijay, has also launched an inquiry into the historical allegations, but in a video, which he subsequently apologised for, he said claims about him had come from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”.
The background to this is disturbing. Yesterday an internal BBC report said that a small number of stars and managers “behave unacceptably” at work, and bosses often fail to tackle them.
The review, commissioned by the corporation’s board in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal, concluded there is not a widespread “toxic” culture, but that there is “a minority of people” whose bad behaviour “is not addressed“.
The report heard from 2,500 BBC staff members and freelancers, declaring that the people of concern “… work in both on and off-air roles, dotted across the organisation in different functions and departments…(and)…are often in positions where power could be abused…Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC’s culture and external reputation”, it continued there had been “inconsistent execution when it comes to dealing with poor performance and bad behaviour” over the years.
Most presenters were “seen as good to work with and respectful”, the report added, but the authors heard “examples of well-known names not being held to account for poor behaviour”.
“We also heard of ‘untouchables’ who work behind the camera or microphone…The perception was that senior management would turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.”
The report said, too, there had been instances of unreasonable behaviour from employees such as “sending abusive emails, behaving aggressively in meetings or even making inappropriate comments that they get away with”, and “managers or colleagues should feel able to intervene”.
Here then we re-publish our piece from earlier in the month, about how this all comes as the controversies have mounted, yet the BBC would not answer The Eye’s questions about them.
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Reports that scandal-hit 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” remarks.
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 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.
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 – as well as important stories on The Eye like these, cultural news about movies and books are central for Phil, and now comes news that a film in one of the most populous countries in the world is breaking all box office records, possibly because it doesn’t tell people what to think.
