The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has incurred over £3.1 million (almost $4M) in costs related to investigating alleged misconduct by former DJ Tim Westwood. A former BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1Xtra DJ, Westwood, denied engaging in any wrongdoing, stating: “It’s all false allegations.”
The review, launched in August 2022, is scrutinizing the BBC’s knowledge of and response to complaints and concerns regarding Westwood’s behavior during his two-decade tenure. Investigators have reviewed over 50,000 documents, including both oral and written testimony.
Led by Gemma White KC, the inquiry aims to address claims from several women accusing Westwood of predatory and unwanted sexual behavior between 1992 and 2017. Some allegations include incidents with women under 18, with one woman stating she was 14 when she first had sex with the DJ. The Metropolitan Police have interviewed Westwood four times in connection with the allegations. Though Westwood has been interviewed under caution, no arrests have been made.
The BBC’s external review, initially expected to conclude in six months, remains ongoing. Ms. White announced a call for evidence in October 2022, and the review team was later joined by safeguarding expert Jahnine Davis. Despite the extended timeline, White emphasized the necessity for thorough document examination and information gathering.
A confidential hotline was launched for a few weeks in April 2023 to assist with the review. The BBC says it intends to ensure a comprehensive understanding of what was known about Westwood’s conduct during his employment. Westwood stepped down from his show on Capital Xtra in April 2022 but continues to perform at various venues nationwide. In light of the allegations, some campaigners have urged nightclubs to avoid hosting him.
