BBC to Publish Internal Investigation Into Hip-Hop DJ Tim Westwood Allegations

DJ Tim Westwood in an undated file photo. PA

The BBC will deliver a report into complaints made about veteran DJ Tim Westwood within the next two weeks, the director-general confirmed on Tuesday.

Last Monday, the BBC, where Westwood worked as a presenter for 20 years, said it had received six complaints against him, including one that has been referred to the police.

Westwood stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April after nine years following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

The 64-year-old has previously said that “he strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.”

“In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially,” a Westwood spokesperson said.

‘I Wanted to Dig Deeper’

BBC Director-General Tim Davie, speaking as the corporation unveiled its annual report on Tuesday, said the claims against Westwood would be investigated and a report published within two weeks. He said an internal audit is taking place at the broadcaster that will report to the BBC board’s Senior Independent Director, Sir Nicholas Serota.

“We have no objective apart from to ensure everything is flushed out and we understand exactly what happened with regards to the BBC and also to do the right thing and [ensure] any cases are looked at,” Davie added.

Davie previously said that he had seen “no evidence of complaints.”

Explaining on Tuesday, he said that “what we have done essentially is we did an initial round of analysis of HR files, which didn’t show something, that was why I made that statement which was my understanding at that time.”

“But I did make very clear that I wanted to dig deeper and ask people to bring something. We take this very seriously. I want to ensure that everyone who has got anything to bring which relates to the BBC or the time spent at the BBC we look at, fully investigate,” said Davie.

Hip-Hop

Westwood has long specialised in hip-hop and related styles, and was the BBC Radio 1 Rap Show’s first presenter.

He left Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra in 2013 after nearly 20 years and moved to Capital Xtra to host a regular show on Saturday nights, where he was referred to as “The Big Dawg.”

Tim Westwood is the son of the bishop of Peterborough, who himself became well known as a media commentator, regularly appearing on the BBC Radio 4 “Today” programme’s “Thought for the Day,” a widely-listened-to slot on faith and perspectives, governed by the BBC’s religion department.

The Epoch Times has contacted Tim Westwood’s management for comment.