The identity of the unnamed BBC presenter who allegedly paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos could be revealed "within 24 hours."

That's according to London-based journalist Enda Brady, who was speaking to Newstalk Breakfast about the ongoing scandal in which an unnamed “household name” allegedly paid £35,000 (€40,944) over three years for explicit photos of the teenager, including one £5,000 lump sum.

The Sun reported the presenter began requesting images in 2020, when the teenager in question was 17 years old. 

It is said the BBC launched an inquiry into the allegations and took the presenter off the air after the teenager’s family made a complaint. 

This morning, UK police will meet with the BBC to discuss the allegations, Mr Brady told the show.

"This is just so damaging for the corporation," he said.

'Drug problem'

Mr Brady said the original allegations were made to the BBC in May, by the mother of the teenager.

"The money that she claims her child received from the presenter was spent on crack cocaine to the extent that her teen had developed a very, very serious drug problem," he said.

"She went to the BBC in May, urging them to ask this person to stop sending the cash, and a month later saw this person on television and realised that she felt nothing had been done."

EMDB97 The BBC Hull city centre office in the Queens Court building

The mother then decided to speak to The Sun, Mr Brady told the show.

"Out of frustration, she went to the media. She says she was not paid for the story – she simply wants to get the information out there," he said.

"Apparently, she gave all this information in a sworn affidavit which The Sun newspaper now has."

Investigation

Mr Brady claimed the BBC was in "meltdown" over the allegations.

"Yesterday, there was a call between the Director General of the BBC Tim Davie and the government, Lucy Frazer – Culture and Media Secretary," he said.

There will be two separate investigations – the BBC internal investigation and the Metropolitan Police investigation, according to Mr Brady.

"I think the key questions really are: What did the BBC do after receiving the complaint? Was the presenter spoken to after the initial complaint? How many times has the BBC tried to contact the family?" he said.

"There's also an allegation in the papers here this morning that this presenter rang the young person twice last week, saying, 'What have you done?' and the second call, then urging the young person to get their mother to stop the investigation."

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