Latest news with #TimWestwood
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
BBC boss says no talent is ‘untouchable' after claims against former employees
A senior BBC executive has said no talent is 'untouchable' or 'bigger than the BBC' after a string of high-profile former employees made headlines due to allegations about their behaviour while working at the corporation. BBC chairman Dr Samir Shah addressed the numerous reviews the corporation has had to conduct in the last few years into former presenters including Huw Edwards, Russell Brand and Tim Westwood while appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday. He said: 'No-one is untouchable. No-one is bigger than the BBC… It's really, really important. It's 2025, we can't have this kind of behaviour and find it acceptable. 'It's certainly true that, looking at Tim Westwood's behaviour, that would not be possible now, but there are others. 'We just have to make sure that the BBC is a modern organisation. People who work for it feel able to voice their concerns, if they have any, and that they will be dealt with, and that no-one in the BBC is untouchable.' BBC director general Tim Davie agreed that the message to BBC staff is that 'everyone is dispensable'. Mr Davie also revealed that he is expecting the external review into complaints against MasterChef host Gregg Wallace to come back within 'weeks not months'. It was announced in November that the show's production company Banijay UK is investigating historical allegations of misconduct against Wallace after he stepped away from hosting the BBC One cooking show. Wallace's lawyers previously told the BBC 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. Discussing the numerous allegations, Mr Davie said: 'This abuse of power, we want to finish it.' He noted the corporation now has a 'specialist case management process' which means that if an issue is raised then there is 'not any situation that doesn't get visibility across the BBC and it's taken seriously'. 'We've got anti-bullying and harassment policies, we've standardised our complaints process, and in our latest research, about 70% of staff feel comfortable to raise issues,' he added. Elsewhere in the session, Dr Shah confirmed the corporation has not been able to recover any salary from former broadcaster Edwards yet, which he described as 'quite frustrating'. Last year, Edwards admitted accessing indecent images of children as young as seven and was handed a suspended prison sentence. After his guilty plea in July, the BBC asked him to return his salary, which he was paid during the period following his arrest in November 2023 until he resigned in April 2024. Asked if they have been able to recover any salary from Edwards, Dr Shah said: 'We have not. We've obviously asked, and we've said it many times, but he seems unwilling. There was a moment that we thought that he might just do the right thing for a change, then he decided not to.' He added: 'It's quite frustrating this, really, because I think he should have done it. He could still do it. It's not right. He's taken licence fee payers' money and he knew what he'd done and he should return it now.' The BBC director general also confirmed the corporation has sought legal advice and there is nothing more it can do at this stage. Last month, the BBC Board apologised after a review found it 'did not take adequate action' upon learning about concerns regarding the behaviour of veteran DJ Westwood. The 67-year-old former hip hop DJ previously said he 'strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour' as he faces historical sexual abuse allegations from multiple women at the height of his career. Westwood stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April 2022 and left Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra in 2013 after nearly 20 years. In January, another BBC review into the conduct of former radio DJ Brand during his time with the broadcaster found a number of people 'felt unable to raise' concerns about the presenter and believed he 'would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent'. The actor and comedian, 49, has denied accusations of rape, assault and emotional abuse, and previously said all his sexual relationships were 'absolutely always consensual'. In September 2023, a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches revealed four women had accused him of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The BBC wanted black listeners and turned to Tim Westwood, white son of a vicar. A parable for our times
More than 30 years have passed since Tim Westwood joined the BBC, 12 since he left and three since Guardian and BBC journalists reported on allegations of abuse by a man considered by the corporation to be the voice of hip hop. Then this week, some of the many concerns raised during his 19 years working there were detailed in the latest edition of one of the BBC's weightiest and longest-running series, Official Reports into Men We Employ Behaving Very Badly. Westwood's career at the Beeb ended in 2013, amid a flurry of accusations and a sense of deja vu best summarised as 'oh God, not another one'. But the 174-page report is well worth reading, not just for what it says about the BBC but, as so often with the media, what it says about attitudes in Britain. First, there's the heartbreaking testimony from so many young women, mainly young Black women – claims of abuse that they say left them feeling so awful they blamed themselves or ended up contemplating suicide. Many did not realise the alleged behaviour was wrong until they were much older and admitted they didn't report it at the time as they feared they would not be believed or would be blamed. The worst allegations are redacted because of ongoing police investigations. Westwood has denied all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and says he has not had the opportunity to answer the allegations, partly because of the ongoing police investigation. Then there was the apparent blind-eye turning to let's just call it dodgy behaviour by a man who was not only considered a star, but was one of just two BBC presenters in 1997 to have, according to BBC research 'made an impact with young Black and Asian listeners'. Yes there are the many junior staff members who complained of bullying and harassment but ended up being moved instead of the main man, but there is also in this scandal the extra spice of the BBC's patronising efforts to be not only down with the kids but down with Black and minority kids. Let's call it the 'Ali G factor'. Westwood, the public school-educated son of an Anglican bishop turned pirate radio DJ, joined BBC Radio 1 in 1994 to launch the UK's first national hip-hop radio show. He was described as a 'dominant force' in rap music, a genre popular among the young people, particularly Black ones, who didn't listen to the BBC. Both of the BBC Radio 1 controllers in charge during Westwood's tenure mentioned the need for the BBC to attract this demographic. The Radio 1 controller between 1998 and 2001 described Westwood as being 'bilingual', able to speak to BBC management in a language they understood and could also 'authentically connect' with a young minority audience. Westwood's bad language and sexualised commentary was, according to a BBC executive quoted in the report 'a sort of swaggering hip hop cartoon character'. When asked in 2017 for the highlights of his time running the station, Matthew Bannister started with 'Westwood's rammed stage at the Notting Hill carnival'. So, in summary, the BBC hired the white, middle-class son of a vicar who affected the vulgar language of rappers (and once met the Notorious BIG and was, sort of, friends with Pharrell Williams) in an effort to increase cultural representation and appeal to Black and Asian listeners on the national broadcaster. Let that sink in. Could there be a greater example of the dangers of Auntie throwing all caution to the wind to be down with the kids, kids she feels are not her own, kids she doesn't understand, kids she apparently made little genuine effort to understand? The report leads to many conclusions, but one that seems inescapable is how much the BBC still needs diversity among its staff. It must be obvious this does not mean middle-aged posh white boys pretending to be Black. It means more people of colour, some of them minority women. The problem of under-representation in the media is not unique to the BBC and at least the corporation has made strides to get better. In 2019 Lorna Clarke, a Black woman, became first, controller of pop and then director of music at the BBC. But despite a target of 20% minority ethnic staff, just 17% of its staff are not white. The BBC response to this latest report shows that some things have been learned since the run of scandals going back to Savile in 2011. In a statement that outlined changed processes since and promised to do better, the BBC admitted that it had for too long 'been too siloed [and] deferential to high profile individuals'. New processes for complaints to allow allegations to be looked at together rather than piecemeal are also in place. A review into its broader culture launched by Samir Shah, its first minority ethnic chair as well as a distinguished former journalist, will be produced by the end of this year. This review should consider the culture of silence around inappropriate behaviour by many powerful men, some of whom were moulded and feted by the BBC. But it should also address the lazy thinking that led to this scandal, this trauma – continuing for so many victims – while everyone looked the other way. The problem with saying 'not again' is that we keep on having to say it. Jane Martinson is a Guardian columnist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Westwood report key findings: DJ's alleged behaviour was ‘a factor' in BBC exit
The key findings of a report commissioned by the BBC into Tim Westwood has concluded that there were a 'range of factors which ought to have alerted the BBC' that he may have presented a 'risk to young women and girls'. Barrister Gemma White KC was commissioned in 2022 by the BBC Board to examine what was known about Westwood's alleged conduct in the nearly 20 years he worked at the corporation. She claimed in the report that Westwood's alleged behaviour was a 'factor' in his contract not being renewed by the BBC in 2013, and he left Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra. Westwood faced historical sexual abuse allegations from multiple women in 2022, and stepped down from his Capital Xtra show that April. He has said he 'strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour'. A summary below delves into the report: – What are the allegations in the report? Some of the accusations and concerns were not reported to the BBC at the time, and part of them were redacted from the report amid the police investigation. A person alleged that after giving him a 'business card', the DJ said he would come to her house and despite her refusal later in the day he 'insisted and turned up anyway, slurring his words' and was later 'mildly abusive'. She claims he contacted her again, and a family member intervened. Another woman claimed that he 'hounded' a friend, who she described as 'a 17-year-old black woman', and invited her to his hotel, and an allegation from an individual alleged he made 'inappropriate comments' at a post-GCSE results event and he 'messaged her friend inviting her back to his home'. Allegations were also made of his behaviour at university halls, nightclubs, festivals and he sent messages to 'girls'. There were also claims by a BBC employee that Westwood took another DJ's competition winners to a club event, where friends of a woman raised concerns. The person did not want to make a report, though seemed 'unsettled, but not overly distressed', the employee said and they 'reported this to someone at work', but could not recall further information. Westwood's lawyers said he was never spoken to about the incident, and the BBC has no record of a complaint. An allegation, dating back to 2010, said Westwood 'mimed grabbing' a student's 'breasts' on his 1Xtra drivetime show – which his lawyers say he 'strongly denies'. A BBC staff member also alleged Westwood was seen with a 'young girl' or possibly two 'young girls' in his hotel room, but 'they did not know or believe that Tim Westwood was having a sexual relationship with any of the girls or young women'. A text message sent to BBC 1Xtra in 2011 which contained an allegation of 'serious, criminal, sexual misconduct' on behalf of 'more than one person who worked for the BBC', including Westwood, was viewed as a 'crank malicious communication', the report said. There was an 'altercation' on December 17 2012 between Mic Righteous and Westwood at Broadcasting House, which was reported to Radio 1 and BBC management, following the rapper releasing a diss track alleging inappropriate behaviour with teenagers. – Why did BBC staff say they did not make allegations? The report said one person told Ms White that 'Tim Westwood was very popular so no-one wanted to listen'. The report read: 'A common theme amongst those who reported allegations was that they did not know or understand at the time that the behaviour which they had described to me was wrong. 'Some said they had only realised when they were older, or recently. 'One person referred to not understanding at the time what sexual assault was.' The report said one alleged victim 'felt they would not be taken seriously and described the conduct as being 'so public and brazen' that Tim Westwood clearly felt comfortable doing it'. BBC staff also said they 'found it very difficult to work with him', and staff were 'upset and in tears' by his behaviour. – What did the barrister suggest? She said that the BBC may properly consider 'safeguarding duties' and that someone is 'not suitable for engagement in particular roles', and they may want to look at the 'ages of the people with whom an individual engages in sexual contact and the circumstances in which it takes place'. Ms White said the BBC could look at the criteria used in education settings, which requires schools to respond to 'low-level concerns' including 'nagging doubts' about a person's behaviour. She said encouraging reporting does not always mean 'formal action' needs to be taken and added that it 'enables an organisation to consider concerns which might not appear significant when taken alone but which together demonstrate a pattern of inappropriate behaviour'. She also said there was 'inadequate communication' between the BBC and 'people who raised complaints', and a 'lack' of certain record keeping – which she raised as something that could be looked at. – Why did Westwood leave the BBC? Ms White said the head of programmes and commissioning editor, at the time, claimed the decision to take Westwood off his 'daytime drivetime show announced in May 2012' was 'in part because he was creating a toxic atmosphere in the studio' and the need for younger talent, and his rap show was not renewed in 2013 for similar reasons. Ms White also said the employee said he 'cannot specifically recall there being any ongoing staff issues' with the rap programme, but Westwood was 'unpopular amongst BBC staff because of his behaviour'. The employee also said the ''shock jock' style of broadcasting had come at the cost of overstepping the mark on several occasions and had been attracting some criticism: it was becoming tired'. Other factors he mentioned included Westwood having an argument with 'an artist which had led to a physical altercation, the negative social media, the fact his persona was being mocked by (comedian) Sacha Baron Cohen as Ali G, and The Sun inquiry meant there was an unacceptable level of 'noise'' Westwood's lawyers told the report that the radio shake-up was due to 'new management', and he 'was not made aware of any other reason for the decision at the time'. – What has Westwood said? The report said Westwood declined to take part but his lawyers did provide a statement. It said he 'strongly denies that his behaviour ever amounted to bullying or harassment', and said some people 'behaved poorly towards' him. The statement said he 'complained to the controller about this negative behaviour at the time and he was essentially advised to rise above it'. It added: 'On certain occasions, he took issue with some of his colleagues' poor attitude to work and low productivity, and expressed his opinion that they were lazy and out of touch with the audience. 'He accepts that this contributed to a divisive atmosphere within some of the teams with which he worked.' – What did the BBC Board say? The BBC Board apologised and said 'on behalf of the entire BBC to anyone impacted by what the review has found', their 'voice has been heard, and the findings of the review will further fuel the drive to ensure it does not happen again'. It also said: 'There is evidence of bullying and misogynistic behaviour on the part of Mr Westwood and the plain fact is that his general conduct was entirely incompatible with BBC values – not just now, but then. 'The organisation fell short and failed people – including our own staff – who had a right to expect better from us.' They also said there had been changes in workplace policy and 'the senior management team will actively consider any other actions which can build on and improve our processes for handling concerns'. It also said the BBC 'must and will act on their recommendations – doing so is vital to ensuring trust in the BBC.'.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nutritionist says 'bad for us' item is actually a superfood and can even go in the bath
We all know that adding too much salt to our food, although tasty, is often bad for us. However, the impact the type of salt has on our health is usually misunderstood or overlooked. One nutritionist has shared her top tip that can improve the nutritional impact of the seasoning and make you feel stronger in the process. Certified nutritionist and influencer, Claire Sorlie, has shared her best superfoods with Celtic sea salt included in the list of healthy swaps. Despite its name, the salt is mainly harvested in the coastal areas of Brittany in France as well as some regions of Portugal. Known as 'sel gris' or grey salt, it is a type of sea salt that has been hand-harvested from coastal areas and is less processed than other salts. Importantly for your health, making the switch can easily add minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron to your diet. READ MORE: The simple dashcam mistake that could see you fined READ MORE: BBC apologises for 'missed opportunities' after Tim Westwood review The seasoning can be especially beneficial for people who partake in endurance sports or intense exercise such as running and cycling. The salt is high in magnesium that can help with muscle function and also help replenish electrolytes that may have been lost in your sweat. The naturally occurring electrolytes can be especially beneficial for hydrating. Surprisingly for it being salt, many athletes include Celtic sea salt in their water as it allows them to drink more. For anyone suffering from muscle soreness after a workout not only can it help you by being on your food, but it can also have benefits from direct contact with your skin. Adding the salt into hot bath water can allow the minerals to permeate your skin and into your muscles which can help them relax and recover more easily. The flakes also are high in iron allowing for generally higher energy levels. The mineral helps to transport oxygen around your blood more easily allowing your organ's energy to improve. It also helps your blood to transport other nutrients to the different areas of your body such as your brain - keeping you more awake.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Apologizes For 'Missed Opportunities' To Tackle DJ Tim Westwood Over 'Bullying & Misogynistic' Behavior
The BBC has apologized for missing chances to take action against Tim Westwood after an external review concluded that the former presenter's conduct was 'entirely incompatible with BBC values.' The UK broadcaster's board today released an independent report, overseen by Gemma White KC, into how the BBC managed complaints about Westwood during the time he worked as a Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ between 1994 and 2013. Westwood strongly denies all allegations against him. More from Deadline BBC Documentaries Boss: "Audiences Trust The Man In The Street More Than They Trust Institutions" - MIP London Nicôle Lecky Says BBC Thriller 'Wild Cherry' Shows A Whole New Side To Wealth In Britain Today BBC Removes Gaza Film From iPlayer Amid Growing Concerns About Contributors' Links To Hamas While it noted there was no 'widespread or significant BBC knowledge of the allegations or concerns,' it admitted that alleged incidents were 'treated in isolation rather than being brought together' and therefore missed a 'pattern of behavior that it could have acted on.' 'Beyond assessing any alleged criminality, which is a matter for the police, it is clear there were times where the BBC, on learning about concerns regarding Mr Westwood's behaviour, did not take adequate action,' added The BBC Board in a statement. 'There is evidence of bullying and misogynistic behaviour on the part of Mr Westwood and the plain fact is that his general conduct was entirely incompatible with BBC values – not just now, but then. The organisation fell short and failed people – including our own staff – who had a right to expect better from us.' White's report concluded that allegations about Westwood's conduct were a factor in his contract not being renewed in 2013. BBC radio bosses at the time acknowledged that he created a 'toxic' culture among colleagues. White, the barrister engaged to investigate the BBC's response to the Westwood allegations, noted that the DJ often made sexualized remarks on his shows, similar to Russell Brand, another former BBC DJ who has been accused of sexual misconduct. 'One of the most frequent concerns raised with me was about Tim Westwood's on-air references to people's bodies, and in particular women's breasts, often by euphemism,' she said. The report's review team had 'listened to a selection of 1Xtra drivetime shows, within which there are multiple examples of Tim Westwood speaking about the bodies of people in the studio with him and referring to their breasts using words such as 'rack', 'stack' and 'those two things under your blouse'.' However, she noted that Westwood's BBC colleagues had not made allegations of 'inappropriate sexual contact' and that his language had not been considered a 'sexual advance.' The report's conclusion includes a 'number of observations about the inadequacies of BBC policies and practices at the time, such as not having a system in place for considering all the relevant issues and concerns alongside each other.' The review, which cost £3.3M ($4.1M), did not point blame at BBC director-general Tim Davie. Davie was responsible for the BBC's radio output between 2008 and 2012, but White concluded that he had 'very limited involvement with Tim Westwood or with issues relating to him.' Davie was aware of at least one audience complaint about Westwood in April 2010, during which a listener raised concerns about Westwood discussing 'red velvet cake' as a reference to a sexual act. Westwood was given a warning at the time that the strong sexual innuendo was 'unacceptable,' but Davie was not said to be in favor of giving him a final warning. The board has now asked the BBC's executive team to respond and set out how policies and practices have changed in the 12 years since Westwood left the BBC and what further action could be taken. It also asked for a separate ongoing workplace culture review, from consultancy Change Associates, to consider White's report, noting: 'Abuse of power is an area where the Board continues to have concerns and where everyone in a leadership position at the BBC must continually strive to do better.' It added: 'The board also wants to take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of the entire BBC to anyone impacted by what the review has found. Your voice has been heard, and the findings of the review will further fuel the drive to ensure it does not happen again.' The review came after BBC News and the Guardian published allegations about Westwood's behavior during his time working for the BBC between 1994 and 2013, and was delivered to police before its publication to ensure it does not prejudice the investigation. The report was first commissioned in 2022 and was expected to take six months to complete, but was delayed several times as new allegations came to light. White noted she had presented extracts from her draft report to Westwood and his legal team. Westwood's solicitors made it clear to White that he denies the allegations of criminal and other misconduct and 'confirms that he has never had any sexual interest in children under the age of 16.' His solicitors stated that he never acted in a 'predatory and/or sexual manner' and 'did not (and does not) present any risk to young women, at the BBC nor elsewhere.' Best of Deadline 'Severance' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Land On Apple TV+? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald 'Severance' Cast Through Seasons 1 & 2: Innies, Outies, Severed And Unsevered
