A review has been published by the BBC looking into what the broadcaster knew about the conduct of DJ Tim Westwood while he worked there. The BBC Board has apologised after it found there was “inadequate communication” between the corporation and “people who raised complaints”, with the report outlining how members of the BBC production team were left “upset and in tears” as a result of his alleged bullying and harassment.
The 67-year-old was accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by multiple women in 2022 but he “strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing”. Westwood was a DJ at BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra for almost 20 years before his departure in 2013.
Here is a timeline of the allegations as well as the events surrounding the independent review launched by the BBC:. – April 26. The veteran radio DJ is accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by several women in allegations reported by BBC News and The Guardian.
A statement from a representative of Westwood to the PA news agency says he “strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing”. The BBC says it is “against all forms of inappropriate behaviour” and is “shocked to hear of these allegations”. A documentary titled Tim Westwood: Abuse Of Power airs on BBC Three.
– April 27. BBC director-general Tim Davie says the allegations are “shocking” and the claims made by the women are “powerful and appalling”, but that he has seen “no evidence of complaints” from the DJ’s time at the corporation. Westwood steps down from his Capital Xtra show until further notice.
– July 4. The BBC says it received six complaints against Westwood, including one that was referred to police, despite Mr Davie previously saying he had seen “no evidence of complaints”. – July 12. Mr Davie says the broadcaster will deliver a report into complaints made about Westwood within the next two weeks.
– July 13. The second part of a BBC Three documentary exploring the allegations made in a joint BBC and The Guardian investigation airs. Another 10 women claim they are victims of sexual misconduct by Westwood, with one alleging he had sex with her when she was 14.
– August 4. A review into allegations of sexual misconduct, led by Sir Nicholas Serota, concludes that the BBC should have further explored issues that were being raised about Westwood during his time at the broadcaster. The corporation reveals it has appointed an independent barrister, Gemma White KC, to lead a broader review to “fully examine” his conduct during the time he spent working there.
– October 3. The BBC urges people with information about Westwood’s time at the broadcaster to come forward and contact Ms White. – November 10. The call for evidence is extended in a bid to encourage more people to come forward. – April 12. The Metropolitan Police says officers have been investigating five accusations of offences alleged to have happened between 1982 and 2016.
The police also reveals that a 65-year-old man was interviewed under caution on March 15 2023 and April 4 2023. – April 20. A 24-hour hotline is launched as part of the BBC inquiry. – May 20. The phone line closes after Ms White says she received a “significant amount of important new information”.
– July 11. Westwood is interviewed under police caution for a third time. – October 25. Westwood is interviewed under police caution for a fourth time. – July 22. The corporation says the independent inquiry into Westwood’s conduct at the BBC has been completed, but needs time to be published due to an “ongoing police investigation”.
– November 7. Prosecutors consider whether to bring charges against Westwood over allegations of historic sexual abuse. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, tells the PA news agency: “A file of evidence has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and our team continues to make inquiries, with support from prosecutors.”.
– December 5. The BBC pauses it publication of a report into Westwood at the request of the Metropolitan Police. A BBC spokesman says: “We recognise that this pause to publication will be disappointing, particularly to those who came forward to participate in the review and to whom we are very grateful.”.
– February 25. The BBC publishes the findings of a review into what the corporation knew about Westwood’s conduct during his time at the broadcaster and how it managed those complaints at the time. The report says “many people” raised concerns about the way Westwood treated people on air, including jokes about women’s breasts.
It also says members of the BBC production team were left “upset and in tears” as a result of his alleged bullying and harassment. The barrister leading the review says Westwood declined to take part in the review but his lawyers did provide a statement.
