BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tony Livesey ‘steps again’ from position after bombshell claims
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey has been named in a Panorama investigation and has asked to ‘step back’ from presenting his radio show after allegations surfaced about David Sullivan
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tony Livesey(Image: BBC)
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey is taking a “step back” from his late-night programme following the airing of a Panorama investigation, the BBC have confirmed. The BBC said today: “The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously.
“We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations. He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised by the programme.
“We will not be commenting further at this stage.” The move follows the transmission of last night’s Panorama episode examining David Sullivan and his conduct towards women while he was proprietor of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport.
Livesey, 62, served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport publications before joining the BBC and hosting his own Radio Five Live programme. This meant he collaborated with Sullivan for several years, reports the Mirror.
The show was entitled Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss. It featured seven women who claim Sullivan was sexually exploitative towards them, which he “categorically denies”. He announced he was stepping down as West Ham director to contest what he described as false accusations about his behaviour.
On Panorama one woman identified as ‘Florence’ claimed Livesey had introduced her to Sullivan, who subsequently arranged for her to visit his residence. Livesey claimed he had “no recollection” of placing a woman on the phone to speak with Sullivan as Florence outlined and told Panorama that introducing anyone to him had never been part of his duties.
He continued by telling the programme he had “great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim”, but he also dismissed any suggestion that he had played “any role whatsoever in that scenario”. He also said he found the allegation “abhorrent”.
Sport newspapers ran stories counting down to the 16th birthday of girls who it would then publish topless pictures of. The BBC reported that Livesey’s 1998 book says he and David Sullivan had come up with the ‘countdown to 16’ feature together but he has since insisted it wasn’t his idea.
Livesey departed his editing position at the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport in 2006, after starting at the Sunday title as a sports reporter in 1987, to concentrate on his broadcasting career.
The presenter was missing from his BBC Radio 5 Live show last night with Qasa Alom taking control of the 10pm slot, beginning with a report about allegations against Sullivan. It remains unclear who will replace him tonight.
Livesey joined the BBC presenting a Saturday morning programme on BBC Radio Lancashire before taking over the breakfast show. In 2010 he began presenting the late night show on BBC Radio 5 Live and occasionally fronted the station’s breakfast show and later the Drive programme.
