Why hasn't the BBC named the presenter at the centre of the explicit images allegations?

A presenter at the BBC is at the centre of allegations that they paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images - but despite getting nationwide attention, their identity hasn't been revealed.

The Sun first reported on Friday that the BBC star paid the person, said to have been 17 when the payments began, £35,000 in exchange for the images.

The teenager’s mother told The Sun she saw a picture of the presenter on her child’s phone “sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear”.

The mother explained she was told it was “a picture from some kind of video call” and looked like he was “getting ready for my child to perform for him”.

The family were said to have complained to the BBC on May 19, but allegedly became frustrated that the star remained on air.

Over the weekend, several BBC presenters, including Gary Lineker and Rylan Clark, have denied being the staff member accused.

And on Monday, broadcaster Nicky Campbell explained feeling compelled to contact the police over his "distressing weekend" as social media claims circulated connecting him to the story.

Introducing his BBC Radio 5 Live show, Campbell said: "Obviously thoughts with the alleged victim and family.

"So a bit of perspective here, worse things happen at sea as they say, but it was a distressing weekend, I can’t deny it, for me and others falsely named.

"Today I am having further conversations with the police in terms of malicious communication and with lawyers in terms of defamation."

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said he is “wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent,” in a note sent to staff.

Why hasn't the presenter been identified?

Despite the frustration felt by the BBC's top talent over being wrongly connected with the story, the person's identity has not been revealed.

Mr Davie's note to staff said the BBC was investigating and a member of staff had been suspended.

He explained that people are entitled to privacy when under investigation, making the situation "more complex."

"By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex.

"I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talents.

"We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports... I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate."

The note also said the BBC was made aware of the complaint in May, but they had received new information "of a different nature" on Thursday.

The BBC said they have contacted the police with regards to the allegations.

The Sun, however, has not revealed why they have kept the presenter's identity a secret.

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