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12th July 2023
09:22am BST
by Ellen Fitzpatrick
Jeremy Vine has called for the unnamed presenter at the centre of the BBC scandal to come forward publicly for the sake of his colleagues.
The BBC presenter was accused of paying the alleged victim, who was allegedly 17 at the time, £35,000 for explicit photos.
The claims were made to the Sun by the unidentified young person’s mother, who said their child used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit.
But on Monday, a lawyer representing the young person said that “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” had taken place between their client and the BBC presenter.
They said the Sun had published the piece despite the young person having told the paper over WhatsApp that there was “no truth” to their mother’s allegations.
The name of the presenter has not yet been released, prompting widespread speculation online. This has led to multiple BBC figures feeling forced to deny allegations, including Rylan Clark, Gary Lineker, and Jeremy Vine.
On Tuesday, a second person in their 20s told the BBC the presenter sent them abusive messages, after making contact on a dating app.
And the Sun made further allegations on Wednesday, saying the presenter broke lockdown rules in 2021 to meet someone from a dating site.
Following the developments, Vine has called on the man to identify themselves for the sake of both the broadcaster and his fellow colleagues.
Taking to social media yesterday, Vine said the allegations would only result in "yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues" at the BBC if the person does not come forward.
"I'm starting to think the BBC Presenter involved in the scandal should now come forward publicly," Vine wrote on Twitter.
"These new allegations will result in yet more vitriol being thrown at perfectly innocent colleagues of his.
"And the BBC, which I'm sure he loves, is on its knees with this. But it is his decision and his alone."
Vine later repeated his belief the presenter should come forward whilst presenting his Channel 5 show on Wednesday.
He said: "It's his decision, but he needs to come forward now."
He said he believed that the presenter's "survival instinct has kicked in" but added: "Look at the damage to the BBC".
Vine said the BBC has behaved with "extraordinary decency" and that the director general Tim Davie has done "everything right".
But he added that - following the latest allegations about abusive messages, and breaking lockdown rules - the director general "could sack him [the presenter]".
He continued: "Bizarrely, as I understand it, even if the presenter is sacked, the BBC may not be allowed to name them".
Piers Morgan also was of the same opinion, saying the presenter should come forward "for the good of his colleagues, the BBC and himself".
"It's only a matter of time before he loses agency in the situation (and) somebody blurts out in parliament, or on a less responsible network," he said.
"For the good of his colleagues, the BBC, and himself and his reputation, it is surely time for that presenter to reveal his own identity, and to vow to clear his name and defend himself if that's what he can do."
The BBC has suspended the presenter in question as they conduct inquiries into the allegations.
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