Richard Frediani, the Editor of BBC Breakfast, is taking a “period of extended leave” according to the BBC.
It comes after allegations of bullying were reported in Deadline and The Sun.
The BBC said that an HR advisor from PwC consultancy would be supporting them as they looked into the culture of the MediaCity-based programme.
It released the following statement:
“We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.”
Frediani, who’s regarded as one of the most powerful BBC executives outside of London, has won multiple awards at the BBC and ITV News, the most recent came this year, when Breakfast received best TV News Coverage at the Baftas for a Post Office Scandal special. He was also in charge of Granada Reports when it became the first regional news programme to pick up a Bafta.
READ MORE – “Bullying” probe at BBC Breakfast following complaints about “draconian” editor
The BBC added:
“While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.”
It’s reported that the BBC probe will go back over historical allegations and complaints, dating back to 2019 – the year he joined the BBC from ITV, where he was Acting Head of Programmes for all ITV News Output.
According to Deadline, Frediani is currently on holiday, and following The Sun’s front page story into the bullying allegations, he’s decided to extended that leave, as the review is taking place.
All this comes a few weeks after the publication of a BBC workplace culture inquiry, carried out by Change Associates. That found that a small number of BBC stars and managers “behave unacceptably” at work, but that there wasn’t a widespread “toxic culture.”
Chairman Samir Shah said at the time, that he would draw “a line in the sand.”
“After today, let me state it clearly, if you think you’re too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.”
