The BBC has admitted that it may never be able to stamp out workplace power abuse issues following misconduct scandals on shows including MasterChef.
Giving evidence to UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, BBC director general Tim Davie and chair Samir Shah were asked if they can guarantee that there will be no further bad behavior crises at the broadcaster.
“You will never fully eliminate human misbehavior,” Shah responded. “Because it’s the BBC, if it’s somebody famous, it’ll become news.” Davie provided a similar response, telling the committee’s lawmakers: “We may see more things coming out.”
The BBC bosses made clear, however, that the corporation has a better handle on complaints processes following a workplace culture review earlier this year. They added that stronger action is being taken against those credibly accused of wrongdoing.
Shah said “very serious disciplinary actions, including dismissals,” have taken place since the culture review, though the BBC declined to provide details on individual cases.
Samir Shah
Davie did, however, point to the “very significant” consequences for MasterChef presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who lost their jobs after an independent review concluded that they behaved inappropriately during production. Both denied serious wrongdoing.
Davie noted that the BBC had been accused of being “too tough” in recent weeks. It follows some backlash against Torode being fired from MasterChef after he was alleged to have used an offensive racist term. Torode does not recall using the language.
“No one’s irreplaceable. We are all dispensable. That’s an absolute, unequivocal position being given to the whole BBC,” Davie continued. He added that succession planning is now being put into place for key presenters to make sure that they can be replaced in the event of a crisis.
The BBC announced on Monday that Grace Dent and Anna Haugh will become the new MasterChef presenters. Both have appeared on the series as judges across various seasons.
Grace Dent and Anna Haugh
Davie added that he worries about the risk of misconduct on series produced by third-party production companies, like MasterChefwhich is made by Banijay. He stressed that the BBC is an “open door” for freelancers to raise concerns.
The director general said it was a “very tough call” to screen Season 21 of MasterCheffeaturing Wallace and Torode, but the “vast majority” of contestants wanted the show to air. He suggested that BBC research had shown that audiences supported the decision.
Davie and Shah were speaking the morning after Deadline reported that the bullying row on BBC Breakfast was coming to a head. Two sources said editor Richard Frediani had been cleared of wrongdoing by an internal review after Deadline previously reported on claims that he shouted at staff, took his anger out on office furnishings, and cultivated a culture of favoritism.
