Tony Livesey to ‘step back’ from BBC radio show after issues raised by Panorama

Investigation alleges former editor-in-chief of Sport Newspapers introduced woman to David Sullivan, who is accused of sexually exploitative behaviour

The BBC presenter Tony Livesey is to “step back” from his radio show after allegations were raised about his previous career as the editor-in-chief of David Sullivan’s Sport Newspapers.

The BBC said Livesey, 62, would be stepping away from presenting his late-night 5 Live show for “a short time” while the corporation considers the issues raised by a Panorama investigation, which accused Sullivan, a billionaire and co-owner of West Ham United, of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against women over several decades.

Sullivan has denied the allegations, stating through his lawyers: “I categorically deny all of these complaints.”

The investigation also aired questions for Livesey, with one alleged victim stating that he had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan.

Livesey told the Times he had “no recollection” of introducing the young woman to Sullivan and that it was “not part” of his job to do so. He said that he had had “practically zero” contact with anyone appearing in the paper, such as female models.

The BBC also pointed to a passage in Livesey’s 1998 book saying that he and Sullivan had devised the idea for the “countdown to 16” feature, which featured countdowns to models’ 16th birthdays, when they could be pictured topless legally for the first time.

Livesey has since said the feature was “categorically” not his idea and that large parts of his book were “fictionalised” to make it appear he was “at the centre of all stories”, even if he had not been.

A BBC spokesperson said: “The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously. We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations. He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised by the programme. We will not be commenting further at this stage.”