BBC issues new statement over allegations against unnamed presenter

The BBC has issued a new statement in regard to the allegations against an unnamed presenter who allegedly paid tens of thousands to a teenager for sexually explicit images.

Director-general Tim Davie ordered a review to "assess how some complaints are red flagged up the organisation". The corporation said it made two attempts over several weeks to contact the family who made the claim.

It added that Mr Davie was first informed of the allegations seven weeks after the family first complained about the presenter - when The Sun said it would be publishing the story on its front page. Mr Davie told reporters this was because there was no response to the attempt to make contact and investigators were unable to verify the claims.

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The corporation has also been asked to hold its internal investigation "while the police scope future work" following a meeting with the Metropolitan Police.

A statement from the broadcaster said: “As a result of this meeting, the BBC has been asked to pause its investigations into the allegations while the police scope future work.”

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It added: “The BBC has processes and protocols for receiving information and managing complaints when they are first made. We always take these matters extremely seriously and seek to manage them with the appropriate duty of care. The events of recent days have shown how complex and challenging these kinds of cases can be and how vital it is that they are handled with the utmost diligence and care.

“There will, of course, be lessons to be learned following this exercise.”

Speaking at a press