Tony Blackburn has claimed the BBC sacked him following a disagreement over his evidence to a sex abuse inquiry.

The veteran DJ said he was fired because his evidence to Dame Janet Smith’s review into the corporation during the years Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall worked there contradicted the BBC’s version of events.

Blackburn, 73, has pledged to take legal action, claiming his experience is “in keeping with the past BBC culture of whitewash and cover-up”.

He added: “They have taken away a career I love and I will not allow them to destroy my reputation.”





Blackburn’s dispute with the BBC centres on an allegation of assault in 1971 by the mother of a 15-year-old girl who later killed herself.

In a detailed statement, he said the review - released later today - made no suggestion that he was guilty of any misconduct, as did an inquest and police inquiry at the time.

Blackburn added: “The BBC have made clear that they are not terminating my relationship with them because of any misconduct.

"They are destroying my career and reputation because my version of events does not tally with theirs.”

The BBC declined to comment on Blackburn’s claims.

Dame Janet’s review - first announced in October 2012 and reportedly costing £10m - has been in contact with 775 people, interviewing 375 witnesses about Savile and 100 about Hall.

A leaked draft version of the report condemned the BBC for its “deferential culture” and “untouchable stars”, and criticised it for having managers who were “above the law”.

The draft stated that rapes, indecent assaults on both boys and girls, and incidents of “inappropriate sexual conduct” with teenagers over the age of 16 were all “in some way associated with the BBC”.

It also warned of the possibility that another “predatory child abuser could be lurking undiscovered in the BBC even today”.

Dame Janet, a former Court of Appeal judge, expressed disappointment at the leak last month and said the draft version was out of date.