10 July 2023 , 15:30
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Jeremy Vine has hinted there will be new developments revealed today relating to the identity of the mystery BBC presenter at the heart of a cash for sex picture scandal.
The 58-year-old broadcaster – who is himself a BBC star – signalled that the ongoing investigation surrounding the unnamed star will soon deliver some fresh details.
Jeremy hit out at the scandal while presenting his own BBC Radio 2 show on Monday morning, after taking time at the weekend to slam vindictive rumours that he could have been the one behind the news story.
The BBC has been engulfed in crisis since Friday when a report by The Sun revealed that a major presenter had paid a teenager more than £35,000 in exchange for explicit pictures.
The BBC presenter is yet to be named (In Pictures via Getty Images)As the presenter has not yet been identified, a witch hunt has spread across social media with many male BBC stars finding themselves being wrongly accused of the behaviour themselves.
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Taking to the air on Monday, Jeremy began his BBC Radio 2 show by stating: “It can’t be me” - alluding to the subsequent news reports that the BBC star in question had been suspended pending an investigation.
He had already hit out at rumours over the weekend, tweeting: “Just to say I'm very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain't me.”
During the course of his show, Jeremy also hinted that new information will be revealed before the end of the day. He stated: “Developments may come today.”
Jeremy’s words were echoed by former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger who said it would be ‘ridiculous’ if the unnamed presenter is not unmasked soon.
He told Sky News: “This information, when it comes out, will be potentially career-ending, it could be criminal, it could be the end of this person's freedom.
“It's a very big decision as to when to release it, but I think increasingly it will look ridiculous if they [the BBC] don't come out and make some kind of statement soon.”
While GB News presenter, and former This Morning host, Eamonn Holmes also slammed the corporation for delaying explaining who was behind the scandal.
He told viewers on Monday: “I'm not sure exactly why the presenter hasn't been named yet.
“I'm not sure whose purpose that serves because sure as heck, that name will be out in the next couple of days.
“I mean, they're only just prolonging the inevitable on this.“
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He added: “The Sun newspaper has a direct relationship with the family involved so they know everything that is going on.
“And they believe that they have the presenter bang to rights on this one, there's no getting out of it.“