BBC blasted over stars who abuse their power

HIGHLY paid and “untouchable” BBC stars continue to behave “unacceptably”, a damning independent review has found.

- By Giles Sheldrick

A probe set up in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal delivered an incriminating verdict on life inside the state broadcaster yesterday.

Although it found no widespread “toxic” culture it laid bare a terrifying environment where reputations provide immunity from action.

The report did not publish names of staff accused of bad behaviour but revealed some had cropped up repeatedly. It said: “We heard of ‘untouchables’ who work behind the camera or microphone.

“The perception was that senior management would turn an eye to poor behaviours when productions were award-winning or attracting large audiences.”

The crisis is the latest to rock the taxpayer-funded organisation and comes 12 years after a report into the Jimmy Savile scandal found some staff were “untouchable” and the BBC promised to clean up its act.