BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey has temporarily stepped down from his show after being named in a Panorama investigation by a glamour model who alleges she was drawn into a sexual encounter with billionaire pornography mogul David Sullivan in exchange for work opportunities.
Allegations and BBC Response
The corporation has confirmed it is now 'considering the matters raised' regarding the DJ, who has spent 17 years at Radio 5 Live, but previously edited Sullivan's explicit Sport newspapers. A woman, whose identity was protected by changing her name to Florence, alleged that Sullivan 'took away her innocence' when he pressured her into a sexual encounter in 1999.
Florence has claimed that the West Ham co-owner coerced her into having sex at his expansive Essex mansion when she was just 20 years old and Sullivan was 50. She alleges the meeting, which she had believed would be a professional casting and job interview, was arranged after she encountered Livesey in the Daily Sport newsroom, where he personally contacted Sullivan on her behalf.
A BBC spokesman 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.'
Impact on BBC Leadership
The identification of the current Radio 5 Live DJ by one of eight alleged victims of Sullivan represents a significant challenge for incoming BBC Director General Matt Brittin. Brittin has recently succeeded Tim Davie, who faced a string of serious sexual misconduct scandals involving prominent BBC figures, among them Huw Edwards, Tim Westwood and Scott Mills.
Florence's Account
Florence claims she was introduced to Livesey, who was at the time editor of the Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers, and who subsequently telephoned Sullivan to arrange for her to visit the businessman at his home. She told Panorama: 'He [Tony Livesey] picked up his phone on this messy desk and called Sullivan. He went: "Have you got your diary there... can you do this date?" I was like: "I can do that date." He then said: "Write it in - you're going to see David Sullivan."'
Eight days later, she travelled to Sullivan's mansion in Theydon Bois, Essex, where he allegedly informed her she would become one of his 'regular girls' — working as a glamour model across his newspapers and magazines — on the condition that they had sex. She alleges he then steered her into one of his bedrooms, pulled down his tracksuit bottoms and proceeded to have sex with her.
She told Panorama: 'I'm 99.9 per cent sure I said, "I don't want to." It was almost like a transaction... That's how it felt.'
Livesey's Denial
Mr Livesey claimed in his newspaper memoir Babes, Booze, Orgies and Aliens that he and Sullivan devised the 'Countdown to 16' pornographic feature, which used suggestive images of young girls to trail the publication of topless photographs on the day they reached the age of 16 — which was at that time the minimum legal age for nude appearances. The age limit was subsequently raised to 18 in 2004.
Livesey told Panorama that he has 'no recollection' of the alleged incident Florence described, but added he had 'great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim', but rejected any suggestion that he had played 'any role whatsoever in that scenario' and said he found the allegation 'abhorrent'. He further denied any involvement in the 'Countdown to 16' concept, claiming that significant portions of his book were fictionalised to create the impression that he 'was at the centre of all stories'.
Sullivan's Denial and Wider Context
Sullivan has strenuously denied allegations that he is a sexual predator, with his legal representatives stating that the layout of his home renders Florence's claims 'implausible'. In April, Sullivan's most trusted associate at West Ham, Karren Brady, departed the club. She first encountered Sullivan at the age of 18, and by 23 he had appointed her managing director of Birmingham City Football Club, which he owned at that time. Brady has made no public comment regarding the Panorama investigation and received no mention during last night's broadcast.
