The BBC’s top brass is to be questioned by a parliamentary select committee about how it has handled claims of bullying involving Top Gear host Chris Evans.
A Culture, Media and Sport committee source told Heat Street that the allegations against Evans fit squarely into the governance issues being examined by MPs as part of ongoing BBC charter review negotiations.
Just finished in Venice with this crew. pic.twitter.com/l4gjJCuymu
— Matt LeBlanc (@Matt_LeBlanc) March 22, 2016
The source said: “This throws up wider questions about the culture of the BBC and its tolerance to bullying or perceived bullying and it’s certainly something the committee would look at in that wider context.”
MORE: BBC Accused Of Burying Chris Evans Bullying Complaints
Next month BBC chief Lord Hall will be among those facing a grilling by the committee before the current charter expires on December 31.
It now seems likely Hall will be asked to discuss the allegations.
Yesterday Heat Street reported that Tory MP Andrew Bridgen had written to Hall for the second time in 10 days asking for an explanation of how the Corporation has reacted to the claims against Evans.
These include an allegation first published in the Sun last month that Evans shouted with such force at a female member of staff who works on his Radio 2 show that he reduced her to tears.
MORE: BBC Chiefs Urged To Investigate Evans Bullying Claims
Heat Street has also previously reported that Lisa Clark, the producer of Top Gear, abruptly left the BBC in December after an apparent clash with Evans.
A source close to the production said: “Lisa Clark is a highly experienced producer. But late last year she challenged Chris Evans in a meeting in front of some BBC executives. She made it clear that Top Gear was badly behind its filming schedule. Evans did not like being criticised and let’s just say he made that very clear to Lisa. Pretty soon afterwards, Lisa left the BBC.”
It is understood Ms Clark created a “paper trail” of claims against Evans which she sent to senior managers following at least one incident when she believed the presenter behaved unreasonably towards her.
Today feels like a good day for a drive. #TopGear spotted on the Sunset Strip in LA! pic.twitter.com/xqjVffLF4P
— Top Gear BBCAmerica (@TopGear_BBCA) May 5, 2016
These reports followed Heat Street’s interview with a former colleague of Evans who worked with him in the 1990s. She claimed the presenter exposed himself to her “relentlessly” almost every day for two years, sometimes when aroused. Neither the BBC nor Evans’s spokesman commented when the claims were put to them at the time.
The new series of Top Gear, co-hosted by Matt LeBlanc, is due to start on BBC2 on Sunday.
It airs on BBC America on Monday.
Brad Pitt has already pulled out of appearing, citing a diary clash.
Yesterday there were reports that some audience members walked out during the recording of the first episode because filming overran by a couple of hours.
Evans has denied the bullying claims. On May 8 he told the Sunday Mirror: “I have had wild times in the past, but I am a different man now. I am older and wiser. I have never been a bully.”
