Tony Blackburn 'sacked' by BBC over Savile inquiry
Tony Blackburn has 'parted company' with BBC over Savile inquiry
(35 minutes later)
DJ Tony Blackburn says he has been sacked by the BBC after a disagreement over his evidence to an inquiry into Jimmy Savile.
DJ Tony Blackburn has "parted company" with the BBC after failing to fully co-operate with the Jimmy Savile inquiry, director general Tony Hall has said.
He says the Dame Janet Smith report contains details of an accusation that he was among a number of celebrities who seduced a 15-year-old girl.
Lord Hall said Dame Janet Smith's inquiry had rejected Mr Blackburn's evidence.
The Radio 2 DJ says he was cleared of any wrongdoing but says the decision to end his contract relates to an investigation into the matter.
Earlier, the ex-Radio 2 DJ said the report contained details of an accusation he was among celebrities who "seduced" a 15-year-old girl.
The BBC has yet to comment.
Mr Blackburn says he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
He says the claim made in 1971 was quickly withdrawn.
Lord Hall told a press conference in the wake of the publication of Dame Janet's report: "My interpretation is that Tony Blackburn fell short of the standards of evidence that such an inquiry demanded."
The girl at the centre of the allegation took her own life later that year.
Mr Blackburn said Dame Janet's report into Savile and the BBC makes no suggestion he was guilty of misconduct with the girl, nor did a coroner's inquest or a subsequent police inquiry.
He says during her review Dame Janet has seen BBC records allegedly showing he was interviewed about the girl's diary by a senior BBC executive, Bill Cotton, and by a senior lawyer.
The DJ says he repeatedly told the review that he was never interviewed by either man.
He said in a statement: "They are destroying my career and reputation because my version of events does not tally with theirs."
"Sadly what is happening to me now seems entirely in keeping with the past BBC culture of whitewash and cover up."
Who is Tony Blackburn?
The son of a doctor from Guildford, Tony Blackburn was the first DJ to broadcast on Radio 1 when it launched in September 1967. He spent 17 years at the station and also presented Top of the Pops and Noel's House Party. Prior to that, he had broadcast on Radio Caroline South and then Radio London.
After Radio 1, he was one of the launch presenters on Capital Gold. He has also hosted Radio 2's Pick Of The Pops and had shows on BBC London 94.9, BBC Radio Berkshire, the Magic network, BBC3CR and KMFM.
In 2002 he won the ITV reality TV programme I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!
Dame Janet's investigation into dozens of sexual assaults by Savile heard evidence from more than 700 people.
They included two BBC managers who confronted Savile over claims he took teenagers home from Top of the Pops.
