The BBC has confirmed its communication with the police after allegations surfaced that one of its presenters had paid a teenager £35,000 in exchange for sexually explicit photographs.
The corporation is diligently working to ascertain the facts and has taken the step to suspend the presenter, whose identity has not been disclosed.
The claims, initially reported by the Sun on Friday, suggest that the presenter initiated the payments when the individual was 17 years old.
While the police have acknowledged the BBC's contact, no formal allegation has been made at this stage.
According to BBC News, the corporation is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Metropolitan Police on Monday to discuss the situation.
Neither the Sun nor the BBC has revealed the identity of the individual involved in the allegations.
In a recent development, the Sun published a new story on Sunday evening, alleging that the presenter in question made two "panicked calls" to the young person after the initial report was released.
According to the Sun, the presenter purportedly asked the individual, "What have you done," and urged them to contact their mother in an attempt to halt the investigation.
It's important to note that these claims are based on the Sun's report, and the identities of the individuals involved have not been disclosed by either the Sun or the BBC.
In a statement earlier on Sunday, the BBC said it was working as fast as possible "to establish the facts to properly inform appropriate next steps".
"The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May," it said. "New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols."
The Sun also mentioned that the BBC anticipates being able to provide a subsequent update on the progress of the investigation in the following days.
Additionally, the paper reported that the family of the young person expressed their discontent with the BBC's recent statement.
They say "no one from the corporation rang them for a proper interview after the initial complaint", the paper reports.
BBC's culture editor Katie Razzall pointed out that "we don't know the truth" of the allegations.
The family of the young person expressed their concern regarding the BBC's statement, perceiving it as implying that the initial investigation may have been impeded due to a lack of response from the family.
The BBC, in a statement released on Friday, mentioned that it has established procedures in place to address allegations appropriately and part of this is "actively attempting to speak to those who have contacted us to seek further detail and understanding of the situation".
"If we get no reply to our attempts or receive no further contact that can limit our ability to progress things but it does not mean our enquiries stop.
"If, at any point, new information comes to light or is provided - including via newspapers - this will be acted upon appropriately, in line with internal processes," added the BBC.
In an email to staff, BBC director general Tim Davie said such allegations were taken "incredibly seriously".
BBC Director-General Tim Davie acknowledged the complexity of the situation and emphasized that the corporation is working swiftly to establish the facts, ensuring that the matter is handled fairly and with care.
He also condemned the spread of unsubstantiated rumors circulating online concerning certain presenters at the BBC.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed that the force had received initial contact from the BBC regarding the claims.
However, no formal referral or allegation has been made at this stage.
The police stated that more information is required before determining the appropriate course of action to be taken.
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