THIS MUST STOP... NOW

Crackdown promise on 'untouchables, 12 years after pledge over Savile

- TOM BRYANT and NICOLA METHVEN

SOME of the BBC's biggest stars got away with shocking behaviour because timid bosses turned a blind eye, a damning report reveals.

And after a string of scandals, from bullying to paying a teenager for sexual photos, the corporation has pledged to crack down on the "untouchables".

But one staffer accused the BBC of failing to act sooner after they vowed to root out bad apples in the wake of a 2013 report into vile pervert Jimmy Savile.

The new review, launched in the wake of the Huw Edwards explicit photos affair, said there were "examples of well-known names not being held to account for poor behaviour".

It added: "Some names were repeated several times, others more infrequently.

We heard examples of on-air/ on-screen presenters who are seen to be 'difficult' and who are 'man-marked' by managers.

"The managers are aware of the presenters' reputations and want to act as a buffer, to be on hand and provide feedback and reassurance.

"This is very different to addressing poor behaviour in the first place.

"Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC's culture and external reputation." The shock review, from Change Associates and led by consultant Grahame Russell, pointed to one example of an "untouchable called out for exceptionally inappropriate language". It said: "A senior manager was in the room but was perceived as deferring so as not to rock the boat.