BBC admits their stars ‘have the potential to abuse their position’ – as they launch major review into workplace culture after Huw Edwards and Strictly Come Dancing scandals

Powerful showbusiness figures with star status have the potential to ‘abuse their positions’, the BBC admitted yesterday as a major overhaul of corporate culture began.

With the company still reeling from a series of scandals involving prominent figures, the mandate of the new inquiry emphasized the importance of rooting out “unacceptable behavior” through a “zero tolerance approach.”

Meanwhile, BBC chairman Samir Shah stressed that no one should ‘ever feel fear or worry’ while working for the broadcaster.

It came after the BBC Board announced in August that it was commissioning the independent review in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal.

Other recent controversies include the firing of Jermaine Jenas for sending explicit text messages to two women and the treatment of contestants on Strictly Come Dancing.

Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on September 16

Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice appear in Strictly Come Dancing

BBC chairman Samir Shah (pictured) has insisted no one should ‘ever feel fear or worry’ while working for the broadcaster

According to the terms of the Respect At Work Review – published yesterday – in all organizations there are ‘hierarchies and individuals with power and influence over others’.

The document states: ‘There is also the potential for individuals with power from an important public profile, leadership role or star status to abuse their position.

‘At the BBC we have a responsibility to ensure we have the right culture, not only to enable people to do their best work, free from abuse, but to ensure that the same values, expectations and standards of apply regardless of the person involved.’

It states that management is ‘committed to the best possible processes and working environment to ensure a respectful and responsible workplace’, adding: ‘Ensuring best practice and a consistent approach not only requires constant focus, but also a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behavior .”

One of the stated objectives is to ensure that ‘the consequences of inappropriate behavior and abuse of power are understood by all and that important issues are addressed as soon as they are identified’.

Other goals outlined include assessing ‘whether we can do more to ensure people feel confident to make their voices heard’.

Announcing the start of the review, Mr Shah wrote in an email to staff: ‘I cannot emphasize enough my commitment to tackling inappropriate or offensive behaviour.

‘For most of us, working for the BBC is a pleasure and that should be the case for everyone. No one who works at the BBC should ever feel fear or anxiety while working here.

Jermaine Jenas was fired from the BBC for sending explicit text messages to two women

The mugshot released by Edwards police after his arrest

Pictured: BBC headquarters in London (archive photo)

“What is clear to me is that we must ensure that the BBC is a safe and welcoming workplace for everyone.”

The review will be led by Grahame Russell, the executive chairman and founder of consultancy Change Associates, and the report is expected to be made public next spring. It will focus on “preventing abuse of power and ensuring that everyone at the BBC behaves in line” with the BBC’s values, the company said.

It will also look at how long it takes for BBC management to investigate the allegations after they are made, following previous claims from insiders that the corporation had sometimes ‘ignored’ complaints about its stars.

BBC News has reported whistleblowers who raised concerns about Edwards’ behavior in the workplace.

It then said whistleblowers who took part in the BBC’s internal investigation into him were “disappointed” with the way it was handled.

The final report from Change Associates, which previously worked on the 2013 BBC review ‘Respect at Work’, is expected to make recommendations on practical steps the company can take to ‘further strengthen workplace culture’.

Last month, Huw Edwards was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.