Entertainment
From Rylan Clark to Gary Lineker – BBC stars who have denied being presenter at centre of explicit photo allegations-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro
A number of high profile presenters have spoken out.
The presenter has not been named (Picture: PA/Getty)
A number of top BBC presenters have ruled themselves out of being the presenter accused of paying a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for explicit photos.
The BBC has confirmed an unnamed male presenter has been suspended following the allegations, while social media has been rife with sensational rumours and speculation.
The unidentified individual has been accused of paying a teenager more than £35,000 for the imagery, from when the youngster was 17 years old.
The corporation has been in touch with the police and confirmed a male member of staff has been suspended and, according to BBC News, the corporation will meet the Metropolitan Police later today ‘to discuss the matter’.
The BBC has said it had been investigating a complaint since May, when it was first made aware, and that new allegations of a ‘different nature’ were brought to its attention on Thursday.
Due to rumours on social media, a number of high profile stars have been forced to deny any involvement.
Rylan Clark
Rylan Clark told people to keep his name ‘out ya months’ (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images)
Rylan Clark has vehemently denied that he’s the BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photos.
‘Not sure why my names floating about but re that story in The Sun- that ain’t me babe,’ he posted on Twitter.
‘I’m currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so take my name out ya mouths,’ he added, in a nod to Will Smith at last year’s Oscars, when he told host Chris Rock to keep wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s name ‘out of his f***ing mouth’.
Rylan, who has worked for the BBC since 2018 on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, made his statement after he commented on a post of the newspaper’s front page being shared ahead of publication.
Late on Friday night, Rylan wrote on The Sun’s post: ‘It’s s*** like this that makes Twitter wild, I’m filming a new show in Italy for the BBC.’
Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Vine has been in touch with a lawyer over social media rumours (Picture: Ash Knotek/Shutterstock)
Jeremy Vine, who fronted Newsnight in 1999 until 2002, before presenting Points of View between 2008 and 2018, has hit back at any allegations it could be him.
He responded to tweets trying to identify him as the BBC presenter, saying: ‘This is seriously defamatory of me. I have screenshotted it and the retweets and passed it to a lawyer. There is no truth WHATSOEVER in what you are saying.’
He added elsewhere: ‘They are completely and utterly untrue.’
Jeremy now hosts weekday programme The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5, while he continues to present a daytime BBC2 radio programme.
In a separate tweet, he wrote: ‘Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday – whoever the ‘BBC presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me.’
Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker sent a message to his ‘haters’ (Picture:Getty)
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker also denied that the allegations had anything to do with him.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.’
Nihal Arthanayake
Nihal Arthanayake revealed he’s off air due to Wimbledon (Credits: BBC / Alan Peebles)
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake has also been forced to respond to rumours surrounding the identity of the unnamed presenter.
He tweeted: ‘I’m off air because of the tennis. Like I am every year. Back on air 17th July.’
Nicky Campbell
Nicky Campbell has been in touch with the police (Picture: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Broadcaster and journalist Nicky Campbell responded after trolls mentioned him in connection to the rumours, and he revealed he has been in contact with the Met Police over the specuatlion.
He shared a screenshot on Twitter with the Metropolitan Police logo and the words: ‘Thank you for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service to report your crime.’
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He added: ‘I think it’s important to take a stand. There’s just too many of these people on social media. Thanks for your support friends.’
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