Veteran DJ Tim Westwood denies numerous sexual misconduct claims

What are the claims and how has Westwood responded? Correspondent Sejal Karia breaks it down

Veteran hip hop DJ and radio presenter Tim Westwood has said he “strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing” after he was accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by several young women.

In allegations made to the BBC and the Guardian, the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, 64, is alleged to have misused his position in the music industry to take advantage of seven women who were in their late teens or early 20s at the time.

Three women have accused the DJ of opportunistic and predatory sexual behaviour, while four others allege they were groped by him at events, according to the Guardian.

A statement from a representative said: “Tim Westwood strongly denies all allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

“In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially.

“Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.”

What did the BBC know? Arts Editor Nina Nannar goes through what the BBC has said

A statement from the BBC said: “The BBC is against all forms of inappropriate behaviour and we are shocked to hear of these allegations. The BBC has strict codes of conduct for all those engaged by the BBC, including on-air presenters.”

The DJ, who is the son of Bill Westwood, the former Anglican Bishop of Peterborough who died in 1999, began his career with local radio before joining Capital Radio in London and was later given his own show by BBC Radio 1.

He was injured in a drive-by shooting in Kennington, South London, on July 18, 1999, which left him in hospital.

In 2013, Westwood left BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra after nearly 20 years and returned to Capital Radio.

He presents a regular show on Saturday nights on Capital Xtra, where he is referred to as “The Big Dawg”.

Often cited as an inspiration for Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictional Ali G character, Westwood presented the MTV UK car makeover show Pimp My Ride UK, which ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2007.

The women, who have remained anonymous, will detail their allegations in a documentary, Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power, which airs on BBC Three at 9pm on Tuesday.

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