BBC presenters attempted suicide and suffered “irreparable damage” because of the corporation’s “horrific” handling of their tax affairs.

The corporation has been accused by 21 workers, including prominent television and radio presenters, of forcing them to set up personal service companies or risk losing their jobs.

Many of them have since been pursued by HMRC over tens of thousands of pounds in unpaid tax, leading to significant “mental deterioration”.

One of the presenters said that it had been a factor in a recent suicide attempt, while another said that in their “darkest hours” they had considered taking their own life.

Another BBC worker accused the corporation of a “brazen attempt” to minimise its own tax bill by forcing presenters onto personal service contracts.