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| Tony Blackburn says he will take legal action against BBC after alleged sacking | Tony Blackburn says he will take legal action against BBC after alleged sacking |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Veteran radio DJ Tony Blackburn said he was planning to sue the BBC after he was sacked, days before the publication of a major report into sexual abuse at the corporation. | |
| The broadcaster issued a lengthy statement on the eve of publishing the report by former court of appeal judge, Dame Janet Smith, into the BBC’s culture and practices during the years Jimmy Savile worked there. | The broadcaster issued a lengthy statement on the eve of publishing the report by former court of appeal judge, Dame Janet Smith, into the BBC’s culture and practices during the years Jimmy Savile worked there. |
| The 73-year-old claimed he had been sacked because his evidence to Smith shows that a cover-up, of which he had no knowledge, had taken place. His sacking, he claimed, had been a decision taken, personally, by the BBC’s director general. | The 73-year-old claimed he had been sacked because his evidence to Smith shows that a cover-up, of which he had no knowledge, had taken place. His sacking, he claimed, had been a decision taken, personally, by the BBC’s director general. |
| Related: Tony Blackburn: BBC presenter's career spans six decades | Related: Tony Blackburn: BBC presenter's career spans six decades |
| At a press conference launching the Savile report, Hall confirmed the BBC had “parted ways” with Blackburn over the evidence he gave to the inquiry. | |
| Telling his followers on social media that he was “devastated,” the DJ published the statement on his Twitter account, where he referred to an allegation made in 1971 by the mother of a teenage girl who took her own life shortly after claiming she was assaulted by an unnamed BBC DJ. | Telling his followers on social media that he was “devastated,” the DJ published the statement on his Twitter account, where he referred to an allegation made in 1971 by the mother of a teenage girl who took her own life shortly after claiming she was assaulted by an unnamed BBC DJ. |
| pic.twitter.com/24vIvPh464 | pic.twitter.com/24vIvPh464 |
| “I am told that the mother told the BBC, a few weeks after her initial complaint, that her daughter had withdrawn her allegation against me,” said Blackburn. | “I am told that the mother told the BBC, a few weeks after her initial complaint, that her daughter had withdrawn her allegation against me,” said Blackburn. |
| “Dame Janet’s report makes no suggestion that I was guilty 45 years ago of any misconduct whatsoever with this girl,” he added. | |
| “Nor did a coroner’s inquest or a subsequent police inquiry into her death. The BBC have made clear that they are not terminating my relationship with them because of any misconduct. They are destroying my career and reputation because my version of events does not tally with theirs.” | “Nor did a coroner’s inquest or a subsequent police inquiry into her death. The BBC have made clear that they are not terminating my relationship with them because of any misconduct. They are destroying my career and reputation because my version of events does not tally with theirs.” |
| He went on to say that Smith had seen BBC records stating Blackburn was allegedly interviewed by a senior figure at the corporation about the contents of the teenager’s diary before her death. | He went on to say that Smith had seen BBC records stating Blackburn was allegedly interviewed by a senior figure at the corporation about the contents of the teenager’s diary before her death. |
| Blackburn said that he had repeatedly told Smith and the BBC that he had never been interviewed in this context. He also denied what he said were suggestions that he had been interviewed as part of a BBC inquiry into became known as the payola scandal. | Blackburn said that he had repeatedly told Smith and the BBC that he had never been interviewed in this context. He also denied what he said were suggestions that he had been interviewed as part of a BBC inquiry into became known as the payola scandal. |
| He concluded his statement by saying that he had been “left with no choice” but to take legal action against the BBC, adding: “They have taken away a career I love and I will not allow them to destroy my reputation.” | He concluded his statement by saying that he had been “left with no choice” but to take legal action against the BBC, adding: “They have taken away a career I love and I will not allow them to destroy my reputation.” |
| The report, which is being published nearly three and a half years after an inquiry was launched, is expected to offer a searing indictment of the BBC and its culture. | The report, which is being published nearly three and a half years after an inquiry was launched, is expected to offer a searing indictment of the BBC and its culture. |
| Large sections were leaked at the end of January, and stated Savile had abused girls and boys “in virtually every corner” of the BBC’s premises. In the draft document, Smith suggested that people at the BBC are still reluctant to complain. It also criticised the corporation’s “deferential culture”, with “untouchable stars” and “above the law” managers. | Large sections were leaked at the end of January, and stated Savile had abused girls and boys “in virtually every corner” of the BBC’s premises. In the draft document, Smith suggested that people at the BBC are still reluctant to complain. It also criticised the corporation’s “deferential culture”, with “untouchable stars” and “above the law” managers. |
| Following the leak, published by the Exaro website, Smith released a statement describing the version of the report as “out of date” and said significant changes had been made to the final version. | Following the leak, published by the Exaro website, Smith released a statement describing the version of the report as “out of date” and said significant changes had been made to the final version. |
| Listings for Blackburn’s two upcoming BBC Radio London shows on the BBC website say that fellow DJs Jaki Graham and Lemar will be sitting in for him. | Listings for Blackburn’s two upcoming BBC Radio London shows on the BBC website say that fellow DJs Jaki Graham and Lemar will be sitting in for him. |
| Information for his scheduled Radio 2 vintage chart Pick of the Pops still states he will be presenting. | Information for his scheduled Radio 2 vintage chart Pick of the Pops still states he will be presenting. |