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.
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), effectively cleared BBC director-general Tim Davie of wrongdoing. 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.”
Source link
