Tony Livesey leaves BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years
Quick Look
- Presenter Tony Livesey has left BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years, following allegations against his former newspaper boss David Sullivan.
- Livesey had stepped back from his show in June and denies any role in the alleged incidents.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Tony Livesey stepped back from his weekday late night talk show in June, following allegations made against his former newspaper boss David Sullivan, which were revealed in a joint investigation by The Times and BBC Panorama.
Presenter Tony Livesey has left BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years at the station, the corporation has announced.
Livesey stepped back from his weekday late night talk show in June, following allegations made against his former newspaper boss David Sullivan.
He had previously worked as editor-in-chief of Sullivan's Daily and Sunday Sport publications.
Several women have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner, of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were teenagers. Sullivan has strongly denied the allegations.
The claims against Sullivan were made in a joint investigation by the Times and BBC Panorama.
The BBC previously said Livesey had asked to take a break from presenting his programme while the issues raised by the investigation were being examined.
One alleged victim said that Livesey had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999.
Livesey said he had "no recollection" of introducing the young woman to Sullivan and that it was "not part" of his job to do so.
He added that he had "great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim", but rejected any suggestion that he had played "any role whatsoever in that scenario" and said he found the allegation "abhorrent".
In an email sent to 5 Live staff on Monday morning, the station's controller Heidi Dawson said he had now decided to leave.
"Tony has asked me to pass on his heartfelt thanks to the brilliant colleagues at 5 Live who he has had the pleasure of working with over the years," she wrote.
"I know many of you have also really enjoyed working with Tony, and we wish him well for all his future endeavours."
The award-winning presenter worked for the BBC from 2006 - the same year he left the newspapers - appearing on 5 Live from 2010 onwards, including a successful stint hosting its drivetime show.
He won radio awards - ARIA and APAs - for his reporting on how it feels to lose your mother as a child, and an ARIAS gold award after he was asked by the late Dame Deborah James to conduct her final interview.
His topical three-hour programme was broadcast on 5 Live from Monday to Thursday, featuring interviews and phone calls from listeners.
Open Questions
- What are the full findings of the BBC's examination of the issues?
- What are Tony Livesey's future professional endeavors?
