BEEB SCANDALS BILL
Staggering sum BBC has paid out probing Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood scandals revealed – sparking fury from victim
In 2013 the Beeb spent more than £5million on three inquiries linked to just one of its former stars
THE BBC has spent almost £5million looking into the Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood scandals.
Its investigations into paedophile newsreader Edwards have cost the corporation more than £1.3million.
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Meanwhile, it has spent £3.3million looking into allegations of bullying and misogyny against DJ Westwood, who denies the claims.
Its total bill for the Edwards inquiry emerged in a Freedom of Information response yesterday.
The money was spent on external legal fees of £340,843 plus £958,133 on a resulting review of complaints policies by consultants Deloitte.
Another £70,000 was paid for “additional resources” from the BBC corporate investigations team.
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The bill is the equivalent of 8,076 licence fees at £169.50 each.
But a victim of disgraced 63-year-old Edwards accused the BBC of failing to respond to him.
The young TV producer was contacted by Edwards in early 2021.
Edwards later sent inappropriate messages, including an invitation to a Windsor hotel while he was fronting Prince Philip’s funeral coverage.
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The victim contacted the BBC and was interviewed as part of its internal investigation into the Edwards scandal in August 2023.
He said: “How can they spend all that money and not have any answers for people like me?
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“I have not heard anything further about the findings of the BBC investigation and not even had a check-up call or anything.
“Whenever I hear any updates, it is usually from The Sun and other papers but not the BBC.
“I followed the correct procedure but have just been left hanging in the wind with no conclusion.
“It is totally wrong they have managed to splash so much public money but apparently achieve nothing.
The money they have spent could have paid a lot of salaries of young producers and researchers — or a lot of licence fees.
“There’s been no result for the public and they have been more interested in protecting brand BBC than actually listening to victims.”
The Edwards costs were revealed after the BBC released its £3.3million report last month into the investigation into ex-DJ Westwood’s alleged predatory behaviour.
In 2013 the BBC spent more than £5million on three inquiries linked to the Jimmy Savile scandal.
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The BBC said: “Wherever possible we aim to resolve matters without external support, and the decision to commission any review or work by a third party is taken with careful consideration, based on the specific circumstances in each case.
“We only incur external legal costs when absolutely necessary.”
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