The BBC is a bastion of British broadcasting and a trusted comfort to millions, but that hasn’t stopped the corporation suffering from its fair share of star presenters going off script and myering themselves in controversy
Another day, another high profile axing at the BBC.
This morning’s frontpages were smeared with the face of Gregg Wallace, the latest high profile star of the national broadcaster to lose his job in a fog of controversy.
Wallace has has been named in some 50 allegations to which the former MasterChef star hit back claiming his reputation was being damaged to ‘protect’ others, sharing a statement on Instagram [8 July] which read: “I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report – a decision I do not take lightly.
“But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.
“The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”
But Wallace is far from the only high-profile name to depart the BBC in recent years, with a host of regular faces now departing the broadcaster’s programming under clouds of controversy. Read on for this A-list lineup of BBC star who left under a cloud.
Huw Edwards
He had been the face and voice that delivered the nation some of the biggest news in recent years, earning between £475,000-£479,999 in his final year at the corporation, its third highest that year.
Edwards will forever be synonymous with the announcement of the death of the Queen, but it was only months after that he was snared in a child sex scandal that saw him handed a suspended prison term over indecent images of children.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how sex offender Alex Williams had sent him over 40 images – he had previously resigned from the BBC on “medical grounds”.
“Huw Edwards has today resigned and left the BBC,” a statement read in April 2024 and with that he was gone from the hot seat the BBC’s highest profile broadcaster and into a painful and public court procedure that encapsulated the nation.
Gary Lineker
Gary Linekar had never made his position in any doubt: when it came to Palestine, he wouldn’t give an inch. The former Tottenham and Leicester striker turned long-time face of Match of the Day received praise from many – especially those on the left – for his staunch and unwavering support for people living under Israeli bombs in the Gaza Strip.
But Lineker’s position as the highest paid presenter at a broadcaster (£1,350,000-£1,354,999) that proactively seeks neutrality was put in jeopardy when he shared a post on social media that some claimed went beyond support for Palestine and instead showed a rat, which has historically been used as a symbol of antisemitism.
Linekar said he “would never consciously repost anything antisemitic” and hasn’t seen the image, but plans which had been in place for the 64-year-old to step down from the flagship football roundup were brought forward to May 2025.
Following from his previous comment, he added: “However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson was part of the trio of controversy-courting, un-repenting petrol heads who made Top Gear into an internationally-renowed juggernaut. It was one of the BBC’s most watched programmes, but things unravelled in 2015 when Clarkson was involved in a “fracas” that broke out in a Yorkshire hotel after no hot food was said to have been provided following a day’s filming.
An internal investigation found Clarkson had carried out an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack”on producer Oisin Tymon “resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip.”
Clarkson would report himself and was suspended shortly afterwards, although Tymon didn’t file a formal complaint.
Lord Tony Hall, the BBC’s director general at the time, said: “For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.
“This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear.”
Jermaine Jenas
It had looked like Jermaine Jenas could well have been the heir apparent to Gary Lineker at one point. The former Tottenham midfielder turned commentator and One Show host had seemed destined for a long career in broadcasting.
But things soon fell apart for the ex-England man, now 42, following a slew of complaints about his conduct in the workplace.
He was taken off air from both Match of the Day and the One Show following the allegations, which were reported to involve digital communications – including texts – and he later admitted to sending lewd messages to two female colleagues.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”
The Daily Star has contacted the BBC regarding these departures from the corporation.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
