Nicky Campbell has hinted at chaos at the BBC (Picture: BBC Breakfast)
BBC radio presenter Nicky Campbell has hinted at the chaos engulfing the broadcaster amid the allegations against an unnamed male presenter.
In recent days, an anonymous BBC star has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for explicit pictures from when the youngster in question was 17 years old.
It has since been reported the presenter ‘broke Covid lockdown rules’ to meet another person, aged 23, after it was alleged the two met on a dating website and the presenter pressed them for almost two months to see each other in person.
Since the allegations broke, Campbell, 62, as well as the likes of Jeremy Vine, Gary Lineker and Rylan Clark have all publicly denied being the presenter in question, while many have discussed the ongoing scandal on various platforms.
As the story proceeded to make national headlines over the weekend, Campbell found himself on the receiving end of trolling and decided to contact the police after as he ‘took a stand’.
Having returned to his radio show on Monday, he’s continued covering the story as more reports emerge – however, not all listeners are happy about it.
During Wednesday’s Radio 5 Live programme, Campbell read out an early message sent in by a listener, which read: ‘For goodness’ sake, Nicky Campbell this is the third morning running that you’re discussing the presenter, enough!!!
‘The world is falling apart, yet you want to discuss again a situation we almost know nothing about, hence just fuelling speculation, find something else to talk about.’
Campbell defended discussing the ‘important debate’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Replying to the angry listener, Campbell said ‘Might I mention, we have our MPs panel coming up,’ adding that topics including Boris Johnson’s phone messages would be addressed.
The day’s main debate however surrounded whether or not it’s the public business to know the identity of the presenter.
He went on: ‘A lot of people think that this dichotomy between the public interest and what is of interest to the public is terribly important when it comes to our law.’
‘I do maintain it’s an important debate to have,’ Campbell later said, adding: ‘It’s a conversation well worth having.’
During the discussion, one caller rung in to apologise for the ‘distressing’ weekend Campbell had faced, while another said: ‘My point is it’s very boring, it’s very tedious, and nobody knows anybody but everybody is running around like headless chickens.’
Campbell replied: ‘Well it doesn’t do headless chickens justice what’s going on in this building.’
‘It doesn’t do headless chickens justice what’s going on in this building.’ (Picture: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
His comment suggesting the chaos at BBC comes after Campbell addressed how ‘distressing’ his weekend had been.
Opening his radio show on Monday, he said: ‘Obviously thoughts with the alleged victim and family.
‘So a bit of perspective here, worse things happen at sea as they say, but it was a distressing weekend, I can’t deny it, for me and others falsely named.’
He continued: ‘Today I am having further conversations with the police in terms of malicious communication and with lawyers in terms of defamation.’
Following his admission, a caller rang to say she was ‘so angry’ that Campbell and TV personalities had to come forward and clear their names.
Campbell responded: ‘I’m all good, Jeremy and also others involved as well, Rylan and also Gary, yeah it’s uncomfortable but as I said earlier worse things happen at sea.
‘We’re big boys.’
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‘Well it doesn’t do headless chickens justice what’s going on in this building.’
