The BBC is planning to allocate £240,000 annually to hire specialists aimed at preventing misconduct following notable scandals involving prominent figures. This decision comes in response to recent incidents involving Huw Edwards and Gregg Wallace.
New Job Openings at the BBC
The BBC has announced openings for two key positions: Head of Corporate Investigations and Whistle-blowing, and a Director for the same department. Each role carries a salary of up to £120,000.
This expenditure is equivalent to funding approximately 1,375 TV licenses.
Goals of the New Positions
- Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and trust within the organization.
- Address serious criminal behavior, including violent and sexual offenses.
- Tackle harassment and elevated personal risks faced by staff.
Background of Misconduct Instances
Huw Edwards was suspended from his role and reportedly received a full salary of £435,000 during this period. Reports from The Sun revealed he had engaged in inappropriate financial transactions involving sexually explicit images.
In 2024, he left the BBC, with allegations surrounding him not being adequately addressed during previous investigations.
Gregg Wallace, who was removed from his position as the host of MasterChef, faced scrutiny after a misconduct inquiry validated 45 out of 83 complaints against him, mainly concerning sexually inappropriate conduct.
The BBC admitted that improvements could have been made in handling both cases more swiftly.
Leadership and Organizational Changes
The new roles will oversee personnel transitioning from other divisions of the BBC to create a dedicated unit focusing on misconduct prevention.
Simon Adair, the BBC’s Director of Safety, Security, and Resilience, initially led the investigation into Edwards. His salary ranges from £150,000 to £155,000.
Future Steps
A spokesperson for the BBC stated that these appointments are part of a broader restructuring initiative designed to enhance the organization’s effectiveness in preventing misconduct.
They emphasized the importance of competitive salaries in attracting top talent for these critical roles.
