The BBC is launching a major new internal investigations unit, recruiting senior staff with salaries of up to £120,000, in a direct response to a string of high-profile scandals that have damaged its reputation.
A New Unit for Transparency and Accountability
As part of a wider corporate restructure, the licence fee-funded broadcaster is advertising for three pivotal new roles. These are Head of Investigations (Corporate Investigations and Whistleblowing), Head of Investigations (HR), and Director of Investigations and Whistleblowing.
The successful candidates will be tasked with forming a dedicated breakout unit to handle sensitive complaints. According to the job descriptions, they will play a "critical role in fostering a culture of transparency, accountability and trust." Their responsibilities will include overseeing investigations into serious criminal behaviour, sexual offences, harassment, and cases posing significant reputational risk to the BBC.
Scandals That Prompted the Move
This significant investment in compliance follows several damaging episodes for the corporation. The most prominent case involved former BBC News anchor Huw Edwards. He was suspended in 2023 after allegations emerged that he had paid a young man for explicit images. Edwards, a convicted sex offender who was spared jail in 2024, continued to receive his full £435,000 annual salary while suspended and left the BBC later that year.
However, an anonymous whistleblower later told BBC News they believed complaints against Edwards were not thoroughly investigated, claiming "things have been swept under the carpet." That investigation was led by Simon Adair, the BBC's director of safety, security and resilience.
In another major case, former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace was sacked following a BBC probe. The investigation upheld 45 out of 83 complaints against him, relating to sexually inappropriate language and humour, as well as culturally insensitive or racist comments spanning a 19-year period. Wallace later apologised, stating he "never set out to harm or humiliate" anybody.
The BBC has also faced criticism over its handling of allegations against former radio DJ Tim Westwood. The corporation apologised for "missed opportunities" to address claims of "bullying and misogynistic behaviour." Westwood, who left the BBC in 2013, was charged in October last year with multiple sexual offences, including four counts of rape, which he denies.
Investing in Trust and Future Governance
The creation of this high-level team signals the BBC's attempt to overhaul its internal processes and rebuild public confidence. A BBC spokesperson stated: "These roles are simply part of a wider restructure. When it comes to pay, we strike a balance to ensure we remain competitive and can attract and retain the best people, and over 95% of our spending goes on content and its delivery."
The move follows pressure from government figures, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who met with the BBC's former Director General last year. Nandy emphasised that "there has been a culture of silence around inappropriate behaviour for too long" and insisted the BBC must "grip the issue of workplace culture." The new investigations unit appears to be the corporation's concrete step towards addressing those demands.
