BBC presenter in ‘sex pics’ scandal faces pressure to reveal identity as TV & radio producers prepare to clear schedules
THE BBC star at the centre of a 'sex picture' scandal is said to be under "massive pressure" by fellow broadcasters to resign.
The corporation's production staff - both on TV and radio - are leaving space in their schedules in case he names himself, it has been claimed.
There is said to be an uprising among staff at the Beeb, who are calling for the accused star to come forward.
The stars are said to be "so sick" of the man keeping quiet, seeing the finger pointed at some of them.
It comes after other top presenters were forced to publicly deny their involvement at the weekend.
One senior BBC News journalist told : "We are all really really worried about this mess.
Read more on UK news
"Obviously everyone knows who the presenter is.
"The presenter in question is very in with the management.
"We are all so sick and tired that these people are protecting their friend at the expense of the integrity of the BBC."
Another BBC star said how there are discussions of an "uprising" amongst staff, both in front of and behind the camera.
Most read in The Sun
An insider said: "The BBC say it can only come from him and has put him under massive pressure to speak.
"He is lawyered up to the max.
"A lot of BBC execs are blaming him for the chaos at the weekend because he was keeping his head down and refusing to be identified."
It comes after the broadcaster was slammed by the cop who exposed paedophile BBC star Jimmy Savile, with calls for the broadcaster to name the presenter.
Piers Morgan also blasted BBC for its "ridiculous" coverage of the presenter to date.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk then this morning said the BBC needs to "get its house in order".
Chalk told : "I'm not here, as it were, to bash the BBC.
"But, I do think that they need to get their house in order and they need to proceed promptly, otherwise you will have plenty of collateral victims of what is a deeply serious and concerning allegation."
Stars Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark and Jeremy Vine yesterday denied they're the BBC star.
Latest on BBC sex probe:
- BBC star who 'paid teen for sex pics' could face years in prison
- Teen's mum claims star stripped to his pants for call
- 8 questions BBC refused to answer about star taken off air
- Star 'partied with BBC bosses AFTER complaint made'
- Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark & Jeremy Vine all deny being the star
- The presenter allegedly gave the teen £35k for sordid images
- Mum blames BBC man for giving money for drugs to her teen
- Piers Morgan blasts 'ridiculous' BBC coverage
- BBC 'is getting calls from MORE members of public about the behaviour of the presenter'
- A cop who exposed paedophile BBC star Jimmy Savile said the broadcaster MUST name the presenter
- Police give a major update after meeting with BBC bosses
Lineker - who fronts the BBC's Match of the Day - hit out at the social media allegations.
He wrote: "Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me."
It came after Rylan, 34, who co-hosts the Beeb’s Eurovision coverage and is filming a travelogue for the Corporation, responded on Twitter.
The former X Factor contestant shared a meme of Oscar-slap actor Will Smith and wrote: "Not sure why my name’s floating about but re that story in The Sun – that ain’t me babe.
"I’m currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so take my name out ya mouths."
Vine, 58, who hosts a news programme on Radio 2, tweeted: "Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Whoever the 'BBC presenter' in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me."
The star was suspended by BBC on Sunday, after Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer sat down with the BBC boss Tim Davie.