BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey has temporarily stepped away from his weekday show after allegations surfaced connected to his former colleague David Sullivan.
The decision comes as scrutiny intensifies following claims raised in a joint investigation by The Times and BBC Panorama.
The broadcaster confirmed that Livesey requested time away from his programme while the issues highlighted in the investigation are reviewed.
Allegations at the Centre of a Wider Investigation
The allegations relate to David Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and co-owner of West Ham United, who has been accused by several women of abusing his influence and engaging in sexually exploitative behaviour.
The claims span multiple decades and involve women who were reportedly teenagers or young adults at the time.
Sullivan has firmly rejected all accusations, describing them as false and the result of what he called an unfair investigation process.
Claims Linking Tony Livesey to Past Encounters
Among the testimonies gathered in the investigation, one woman alleged that Tony Livesey had introduced her to Sullivan in 1999.
This claim has become part of the broader examination of events surrounding Sullivan’s media and business dealings during that period.
Livesey has strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating he has no recollection of making such an introduction and insisting it was not part of his professional duties at the time.
He also expressed sympathy for individuals who believe they were harmed but rejected any suggestion that he played any role in misconduct, describing the allegation as “abhorrent”.
Livesey Responds to Accusations
In comments to The Times, Livesey said he had minimal contact with the individuals referenced in the report, including female models connected to the newspaper world in which Sullivan operated.
He further addressed claims tied to his earlier published work, which referenced a controversial newspaper feature linked to Sullivan’s publications.
Livesey has since distanced himself from those claims, saying they were misrepresented and that parts of his book were fictionalised in hindsight.
BBC Statement and Ongoing Review
The BBC acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations included in the investigation and confirmed that Livesey had stepped aside voluntarily from his presenting duties.
A spokesperson said the corporation is considering the matters raised and noted that Livesey has firmly denied the claims made against him.
The broadcaster added that no further comment would be made while the review is ongoing.
Background of the Investigation Into David Sullivan
The wider investigation focuses on allegations made by seven women spanning several decades.
Those involved were reportedly young models seeking opportunities within Sullivan’s newspaper empire at the time.
The claims describe situations in which professional opportunities were allegedly linked to sexual demands during meetings, accusations Sullivan has categorically denied, insisting the reports are “factually incorrect and entirely false”.
BBC Radio 5 Live Show Continues Without Its Presenter
Livesey’s programme, a three-hour weekday phone-in and interview show broadcast Monday to Thursday, will continue without him during his temporary absence.
He has worked with the BBC since 2006 and has been a regular voice on BBC Radio 5 Live since 2010, building a long-standing presence on the network’s evening schedule.
