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Epoch Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
BBC Pledges Workplace Reforms After Review Highlights Unacceptable Staff Behaviour
The BBC has pledged to take Commissioned in October 2024 and conducted by consultancy firm Change Associates, the 'BBC Workplace Culture' However, it identified serious failings in how poor behaviour is addressed, particularly where power imbalances exist and high-profile individuals are involved. On Monday, the BBC announced a series of reforms aimed at resetting workplace expectations and strengthening accountability. These include an enhanced Code of Conduct with specific guidance for presenters, a dedicated hotline for raising complaints, and revised contracts for all new employees and freelancers to clearly define behavioural standards. Legacy Culture and 'Grey Areas' The review highlighted how some long-serving staff, many of whom rose through the ranks over the past 20 to 30 years, continue to operate under outdated norms. 'They share stories of what used to be accepted—throwing furniture, drinking on the premises—and rightly comment how far things have come,' the document said. Related Stories 9/16/2024 9/28/2023 Feedback from around 2,500 employees and freelancers revealed calls for clearer guidelines on acceptable behaviour. Several contributors expressed a desire for definitive 'dos and don'ts,' particularly around distinguishing friendly banter from behaviour that's 'downright cruel or offensive.' 'We also need to accept that some people are more direct than others, we shouldn't have to tread on eggshells when having work-related conversations. But we also need to be respectful,' another employee said. Concerns were also raised about the BBC's pay structure, particularly the stark disparity between producers and flagship presenters. 'The pay differential between a producer and a flagship programme presenter is huge. The actual and perceived value of the presenter to the BBC versus the value to the BBC of the producer. How empowered really is a producer to raise and address issues?' said an employee. The review recommended routine check-ins after stressful assignments, to address concerns before they escalate. Power Imbalance and 'Untouchable' Talent A recurring theme was the perception that high-profile presenters—often referred to as 'talent'—are treated differently. While many on-air figures were praised for professionalism, the review cited repeated instances where prominent individuals were not held accountable for behaviour deemed unacceptable from other staff. One incident involved a well-known presenter using exceptionally inappropriate language in front of colleagues. Although a senior manager was present, staff perceived their response—issuing a warning and allowing production to continue—as insufficient. 'That makes it worse!! Staff were impacted … there should have been zero tolerance and no nuance,' said one observer. Staff also expressed concerns about the vast pay gap between production teams and star presenters, which they believe further disempowers junior colleagues from speaking up. One contributor said: 'I don't want her to lose her job over this. I just want it to stop.' Scandals and Response The review comes in the wake of Edwards was arrested on Nov. 8, 2023, and formally charged on June 26, 2024. He had previously been suspended in July 2023 over separate allegations involving payments to a young person for sexually explicit images. Citing medical reasons, he resigned in April 2024 while still under investigation. At the time of his resignation, Edwards was one of the UK's highest-paid broadcasters, earning between £475,000 and £479,999 each year. The BBC The case intensified scrutiny over how the broadcaster handles complaints and monitors the behaviour of high-profile staff. Other incidents in recent years have exposed weaknesses in complaint procedures, with staff describing the current process as 'traumatising,' overly bureaucratic, and lacking in communication. Addressing staff on Monday, BBC Chairman Samir Shah He added there is 'no place' at the BBC for those who 'abuse power or punch down or behave badly.' The strengthened Code of Conduct will include specific guidance for on-air presenters, while a new 'Call It Out' campaign is meant to challenge poor conduct. Examples of misconduct and consequences for staff will be updated and all TV production partners will be required to meet BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the announced measures will 'change the experience of what it is to be at the BBC for everyone.'
New Statesman
30-04-2025
- New Statesman
The BBC finds itself not guilty
When is a toxic workplace not a toxic workplace? Seemingly, when the workplace in question is the BBC. On 28 April the broadcaster reported that an inquiry had cleared it of having a toxic culture. But it did highlight areas for improvement – the report, by the consultancy firm Change Associates, spoke of 'untouchable' members of staff and told how some felt senior management would 'turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences'. It revealed how staff 'continue to thrive' and were even promoted – as grievances against them were investigated. Despite the BBC's claims of zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour, the report concluded that wasn't the experience for all. Which all sounds pretty toxic to me. Of course, the majority of BBC staff are decent, considerate and hard-working. All the more reason they should feel such values are reflected by those at the top. Yet the BBC's interpretation of the report appears committed to the 'few bad apples' school of thought. It was commissioned after Huw Edwards's conviction for accessing indecent photographs of children and allegations from staff he had acted inappropriately. The BBC has also had to apologise to those who'd felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand and those who'd been bullied by the Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood. There was the investigation into bad behaviour on Strictly Come Dancing. Match of the Day's Jermaine Jenas was sacked over workplace conduct. Now, an investigation into claims the MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace made inappropriate comments to 13 people over a 17-year period is under way. That's a lot of bad apples. The report comes not a decade after the last inquiry into behaviour at the BBC, launched after Jimmy Savile's crimes came to light. Back then, there were promises policies would change and 'talent' would be left in no doubt about appropriate behaviour. Will things be different this time? In coming years our BBC faces a fight for survival. The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has insisted it needs a 'fairer' and 'more sustainable' funding model. But if the BBC cannot stand up to a few pumped-up egos on its payroll, does it have the ability to defend itself against those who seek to undermine it? Those of us who value so much of what the BBC is and does must hope so. Gordon Brown is not a man inclined to give up, and certainly not in his ongoing battle against alleged criminality at Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of the Sun and long-gone News of the World. The former prime minister has lodged a complaint with the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service, claiming he and others were victims of an obstruction of justice. Writing in the Guardian on 26 April, Brown said a police officer who worked on the 2011 investigation into phone hacking at NGN told him they believe there is significant evidence emails were deleted by the company to pervert the course of justice, and that investigators were 'misled'. Nine million emails remain missing from the 30 million deleted by NGN. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Brown cares deeply that justice is done. The question is, does anyone else? The Met Police's response to his article was muted: 'While we acknowledge that information emerging from civil proceedings is of interest to the public and the press who may be seeing it for the first time, in the vast majority of cases it is material that has already been considered as part of the numerous investigations and reviews that have previously been carried out.' And yet who can argue with Brown's argument: 'All of us benefit from showing that there is a difference between an honest media and one that corrupts the currency.' The Sun boasts of its record in picking election winners going back to Thatcher in 1979. Its 1992 'It's the Sun wot won it' headline created the narrative that it alone could crown a winner. In 1997 it backed Blair, and last summer it announced, albeit grudgingly, 'It's time for a new manager.' But if the paper is losing faith in Keir Starmer, there are no signs it is backing Kemi Badenoch instead. Earlier this month it splashed a poll saying 68 per cent of people felt Britain is broken – a situation it said was Keir Starmer's 'worse Nigemare'. Farage soon took to a stage holding a giant copy of the front page. Then, on Saturday 26 April, an interview with the Tory leader appeared on a desultory spread on pages 22-23. Much further back, and she would have been in the gardening section. Some may question whether the Sun can really still direct election results. Most likely not. But could it ever? In reality, the paper's great skill was understanding the way the British public was heading, then following suit. It is that which should most concern both Labour and the Conservatives. The Observer was looking sprightly and sharp in its first outing under new owners Tortoise Media, a fuller read than it has been in recent months. Writing about the Observer's new beginning, its editor-in-chief, James Harding, reflected on the paper's former owner and editor David Astor's vision for the title, 'roughly defined as trying to do the opposite of what Hitler would have done'. Which seems a sensible principle to edit by – and to live by. [See also: Keir Starmer needs an enemy within] Related
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Untouchable' BBC star slammed for 'exceptionally inappropriate language' in new bombshell report
The BBC has promised to clamp down on the badly behaved "untouchables" colleagues still operating within its ranks. In a bombshell report, launched in the wake of the uproar over disgraced former BBC News At Ten presenter Huw Edwards , the findings state that there is a 'a minority of people' within the company whose bad behaviour 'is not addressed'. The damning review pointed to one particular "untouchable" who was "called out for exceptionally inappropriate language." It states how a 'senior manager was in the room" but was "perceived as deferring so as not to rock the boat". Staff on the show in question were left furious. One person working on the programme said: "Staff were impacted … there should have been zero tolerance and no nuance". The review adds that staff had heard of "examples of well-known names not being held to account for poor behaviour. Some names were repeated several times, others more infrequently." The review, from Change Associates and led by management consultant Grahame Russell, also criticised BBC bosses for not nipping bad behaviour in the bud, the Mirror reports. It says: 'We heard examples of on-air/on-screen presenters who are seen to be 'difficult' and who are 'manmarked' by BBC managers. The managers are aware of the presenters' reputations and want to act as a buffer - to be on hand and provide feedback and reassurance in real-time. This is very different to addressing poor behaviour in the first place.' Speaking of the badly-behaved stars in question, the report adds: 'Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC's culture and external reputation.' Despite this, it concluded that there wasn't a 'toxic' culture at the BBC. However it wasn't just in front of the cameras that problems existed with the report stating there were also 'untouchables who work behind the camera or microphone.' It continues: 'The perception was that senior management would turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.' The report also hears from some of the on-air stars themselves, who claimed there was a culture where BBC staff often pandered to them. One A-lister said: 'As the so-called talent, I'm aware that no one wants to upset me, people laugh at jokes, fuss around me, can't do enough for me – it is false and unnecessary, and I can see how over time, some would come to expect it. 'I can call Tim [Davie, director general] right now, tell him about our conversation.' The report questions whether producers can really 'talk straight' with the talent due to the power imbalance. There were also question marks over who 'manages these names". The report says: 'We hear that this is exceptionally ambiguous – often people are appointed to shows or programmes by people very senior in the BBC hierarchy, with little involvement from the team on the programme until it's a done deal. This leads to ambiguity about who really has the power to speak truth if something goes wrong.' Yesterday, BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah vowed to crack down on the badly behaved names who are still operating within the Corporation. He told staff: 'There is a minority of people whose behaviour is simply not acceptable. And there are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.' Addressing the worst offenders directly, he said: 'If you think you're too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, then not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.' It comes as the BBC has launched a refreshed code of conduct, with specific guidance for on-air stars, and also introduced the rollout of a new Call It Out campaign, where staff can challenge poor conduct. Additionally, they will launch a resolving concerns helpline, introduce in-person inductions for all new joiners and conduct regular, targeted culture checks. Shah revealed that his first year at the head of the corporation had shown him a 'different side' and one he 'wasn't expecting', as he addressed a staff event at London's Broadcasting House. He added: 'The report makes several recommendations that prioritise action over procedural change - and that is exactly right. 'It also addresses some deep-seated issues: for example, the need to make sure everyone can feel confident and not cowed about speaking up.' The report stated there was evidence that both Jewish and Muslim staff members and freelancers are in fear 'of speaking up, raising issues and being themselves at work". It said: 'Given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, this has been exacerbated, as they feel concerns have not been heard or acted on". The BBC has been hit by a series of damaging allegations about BBC presenters in the last year alone. In January, the BBC apologised to staff who felt they could not speak up regarding concerns about Russell Brand's behaviour because he was seen as 'too influential'. Meanwhile, Jermaine Jenas, who presented The One Show, was fired last summer following complains about his workplace conduct. MasterChef's Greg Wallace has also stepped down from the show while Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were forced to leave Strictly Come Dancing. Di Prima was let go from the show after he was accused of kicking Zara McDermott while Pernice was accused of bullying Amanda Abbington. The BBC upheld some complaints against Pernice but ended up clearing him of the most serious allegations. BBC director-general Tim Davie welcomed the findings. He said: 'This report represents an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry. 'It provides clear, practical recommendations that we are committed to implementing at pace. I'm grateful to everyone who took part and contributed.' Meanwhile culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government considers it 'a moral imperative' that the BBC implement a plan of action 'without delay'. She said: 'There is no place for abuse or harassment in any workplace, and BBC staff alongside the public rightly expect the very highest standards from their national broadcaster." Huw Edwards was suspended on full pay in July 2023 regarding payments he made to an unnamed young person in exchange for explicit photographs. He stepped down six months later amid calls for him to repay his salary from the period. Others have since come forward to report messages of a sexual or bullying nature. The BBC review included statements from around 2,500 employees and freelancers, with representations from across the UK and 19 other countries around the globe.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC star dubbed 'untouchable' slammed for 'exceptionally inappropriate language'
A report into badly-behaving stars at the BBC has shed light on an extraordinary incident involving one of their A-list stars, and how senior managers failed to act accordingly The BBC has vowed to crack down on the badly behaved 'untouchables' still operating within its ranks. An explosive report, launched in the wake of the furore over disgraced former newsreader Huw Edwards, says there is 'a minority of people' whose bad behaviour 'is not addressed'. And the damning review pointed to one example of an 'untouchable…..called out for exceptionally inappropriate language.' It says how a 'senior manager was in the room" but was "perceived as deferring so as not to rock the boat." Staff on the show in question were left furious. 'Staff were impacted … there should have been zero tolerance and no nuance,' said one person working on the programme. The review says how they heard of 'examples of well-known names not being held to account for poor behaviour. Some names were repeated several times, others more infrequently.' The review, from Change Associates and led by management consultant Grahame Russell, also slammed BBC bosses for not nipping bad behaviour in the bud. It says: 'We heard examples of on-air / on-screen presenters who are seen to be 'difficult' and who are 'manmarked' by BBC managers. The managers are aware of the presenters' reputations and want to act as a buffer - to be on hand and provide feedback and reassurance in real-time. This is very different to addressing poor behaviour in the first place.' The report adds of the badly-behaved stars in general: 'Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC's culture and external reputation.' It concluded however that there wasn't a 'toxic' culture at the BBC. READ MORE: BBC halts Pilgrimage filming as Jay McGuiness breaks down in tears after question However it wasn't just in front of the cameras that problems existed with the report stating there were also 'untouchables who work behind the camera or microphone.' It adds: 'The perception was that senior management would turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.' The report also hears from some of the on-air stars themselves, who told how there was a culture where BBC staff often pandered to them. One A-lister said: 'As the so-called talent, I'm aware that no one wants to upset me, people laugh at jokes, fuss around me, can't do enough for me – it is false and unnecessary, and I can see how over time, some would come to expect it.' 'I can call Tim [Davie, director general] right now, tell him about our conversation.' The report questions whether producers can really 'talk straight' with the talent due to the power imbalance. There were also question marks over who 'manages these names.' The report says: 'We hear that this is exceptionally ambiguous – often people are appointed to shows or programmes by people very senior in the BBC hierarchy, with little involvement from the team on the programme until it's a done deal. This leads to ambiguity about who really has the power to speak truth if something goes wrong.' BBC Chair Dr Samir Shah yesterday vowed to crack down on the badly behaved names operating within the Corporation. He told staff: 'There is a minority of people whose behaviour is simply not acceptable. And there are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.' Addressing the worst offenders directly, he said: 'If you think you're too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, then not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.' The BBC has launched a refreshed code of conduct, with specific guidance for on-air presenters, and started the rollout of a new Call It Out campaign, where staff can challenge poor conduct. They will also launch a resolving concerns helpline, introduce in-person inductions for all new joiners and conduct regular, targeted culture checks. Shah said his first year in the position at the corporation had shown him a 'different side' and one he 'wasn't expecting', as he addressed a staff event at London's Broadcasting House He added: 'The report makes several recommendations that prioritise action over procedural change - and that is exactly right. 'It also addresses some deep-seated issues: for example, the need to make sure everyone can feel confident and not cowed about speaking up.' The report said there was evidence that both Jewish and Muslim staff members and freelancers are in fear 'of speaking up, raising issues and being themselves at work'. 'Given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, this has been exacerbated, as they feel concerns have not been heard or acted on,' it said. The BBC has been rocked by a string of allegations about BBC presenters in the last year alone. In January, the BBC apologised to staff who felt they could not speak up with concerns about Russell Brand 's behaviour because he was seen as 'too influential' Jermaine Jenas, who presented The One Show, was fired last summer following complaints about workplace conduct. Gregg Wallace stepped aside as Masterchef co-host, while Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were forced to leave Strictly Come Dancing. Di Prima was sacked after being accused of kicking Zara McDermott, while Pernice was accused of bullying Amanda Abbington. The BBC upheld some of complaints against Pernice, but cleared him of the most serious allegations. BBC director-general Tim Davie welcomed the findings. He said: 'This report represents an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry. 'It provides clear, practical recommendations that we are committed to implementing at pace. I'm grateful to everyone who took part and contributed.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government considers it 'a moral imperative' that the BBC implement a plan of action 'without delay'. 'There is no place for abuse or harassment in any workplace, and BBC staff alongside the public rightly expect the very highest standards from their national broadcaster,' she said. Edwards was suspended on full pay in July 2023 over payments to an unnamed young person for explicit photographs. He resigned six months later amid calls for him to repay his salary from the period. Others have since come forward to complain about messages of a sexual or bullying nature. The review heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers, with representations from across the UK and 19 different countries around the world.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC still has a problem with ‘untouchable' stars, report says
The BBC continues to reward 'untouchable' stars by letting their bad behaviour go unpunished, according to a new report. An independent review commissioned in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal found some presenters are so problematic that they are 'man-marked' by BBC managers who act as a buffer between them and more junior staff. 'We heard examples of well-known names not being held to account for poor behaviour,' the report said. 'A small number of people can become 'untouchable' in the eyes of colleagues. They are known for getting away with poor behaviour, and their reputation spreads beyond their immediate team. 'We heard about a minority of people who behave unacceptably and whose behaviour is not addressed and impacts employees and freelancers. These people work in both on and off-air roles, dotted across the organisation in different functions and departments. 'They 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. '[The BBC] states it has zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour, but the words do not align with the actual experience of some people working with or for the corporation.' The corporation does not have a toxic culture overall, the workplace review found. However, Samir Shah, the BBC's chairman, admitted: 'There are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.' Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, promised immediate action to improve the culture and warned that 'a line in the sand' had been drawn. But the report, conducted Change Associates, a management consultancy, said staff felt 'a degree of cynicism towards the ability of leaders and managers to enact the change needed'. The review surveyed 2,500 BBC employees and freelancers about their experiences. It names no names but was commissioned in the wake of the scandal over Edwards, who was the BBC's highest-paid news presenter until his conviction for making indecent images of children. Since then, Gregg Wallace has stepped away from hosting the BBC's MasterChef series after historical complaints about his workplace behaviour came to light. Jermaine Jenas was sacked from The One Show last November after he admitted sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues. In January, the BBC apologised to staff who felt they could not raise concerns about Russell Brand during his time as a presenter for Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music. Allegations included Brand exposing himself in the studio, throwing objects in anger and having sex with a competition winner in a disabled toilet. The workplace review said that most presenters were seen as good to work with, and many of those who spoke to the authors were 'embarrassed and ashamed to be associated with people who feature in the press for their behavioural misdemeanours'. But it also found 'untouchables' behind the camera or microphone. 'The perception was that senior management would turn a blind eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.' Responding to the workplace review findings, Mr Shah said: 'In the end, it's quite simple: if you are a person who is prepared to abuse power or punch down or behave badly, there is no place for you at the BBC.' The review acknowledged a generational divide over what is considered acceptable workplace behaviour, with the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements raising awareness of how attitudes and language that used to be tolerated are no longer so. 'Generation Z has entered the workplace with different norms and expectations,' it said. 'There is a cohort of people in the BBC who have grown up together in the last 20-30 years and reached senior positions. They share stories of what used to be accepted – throwing furniture, drinking on the premises – and rightly comment how far things have come. 'But if society is changing its norms, do they understand what is and is not acceptable today? They, plus many employees and freelancers, want some clearer rules.' One anonymous participant said: 'I'd love to see some clear 'dos and don'ts' in terms of what is banter – and what is downright cruel or offensive.' Another said: 'We are in a workplace where the workforce can span across 50 years or more, and the tolerance of acceptability is so different across the generations.' In a speech to staff at London Broadcasting House, Mr Shah warned: 'If you think you're too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, then not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.' But he also issued a warning to staff who criticise BBC management publicly, which he called 'reverse bullying – where staff believe it is OK to use social media platforms to humiliate or mock managers for making tough decisions. There is no place for you, either, in the BBC.' The report advised: 'It should be unacceptable for individuals to publicly criticise the organisation based on personal opinions or the views of small groups (eg if a programme is discontinued), or to leak stories about the BBC to the wider media.' Presenters who have publicly called out the BBC's decision to cancel a programme include Victoria Derbyshire, who was furious when her award-winning current affairs show was cancelled in 2020. Staff were also critical of the BBC's cuts to local radio. 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