A male member of staff has been suspended following , the broadcaster has confirmed.
It was claimed that the unnamed presenter , with an alleged total of more than £35,000.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May.
‘New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.’
The spokesperson continued: ‘We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended. We expect to be in a position to provide a further update in the coming days as the process continues.’
They added that the BBC board ‘will continue to be kept up to date’.
The spokesperson stressed that the BBC ‘takes any allegations seriously’, adding that the firm has ‘robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations’.
‘This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps,’ they stated.
‘It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care.’
The broadcaster emphasised that they have ‘been clear’ that ‘if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up’.
According to PA news agency, the publication understands that the BBC are talking to the police.
Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, added that he is ‘wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent’.
In a note sent to staff and seen by the PA news agency, Mr Davie said the corporation takes ‘all such allegations incredibly seriously’.
It continued: ‘The BBC became aware of a complaint in May; the BBC investigations team have been looking into this since it was raised and have been actively following up.
‘New allegations, of a different nature, were put to us on Thursday, and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.’
He also confirmed the suspension of a member of staff in his note.
Mr Davie said that by law, ‘individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex’, before addressing ‘unsubstantiated rumours’ circulating online.
‘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 talent,’ he said.
‘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 teenager at the centre of the allegations was 17 at the time at which the situation is said to have begun, and is now 20.
