Veteran BBC DJ Tony Blackburn is accusing the corporation of a 'cover-up' after being sacked

Stuart C. Wilson / Stringer

Blackburn has accused the BBC of a past culture of "whitewash and cover up"

Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn says he has been sacked by the BBC because evidence he gave to a major inquiry showed that a cover-up had taken place. 

The long-serving Radio 2 DJ says he is planning to sue his former employers after being sacked before the publication of a report into sexual abuse at the corporation, which was triggered by the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The fall-out between Blackburn, 73, and the BBC relates to an accusation made against the DJ dating back to 1971 that he was among a number of celebrities to seduce a 15-year-old girl.

Blackburn claims he was cleared of any wrongdoing, but has been sacked because the evidence he gave to the Dame Janet Smith report didn't match with the BBC's version of events.

In a statement Blackburn said:

"I am told that the mother told the BBC, a few weeks after her initial complaint, that her daughter had withdrawn her allegation against me. Dame Janet's report makes no mention that I was guilty 45 years ago of any misconduct whatsoever with this girl. Nor did a coroner's inquest or a subsequent police inquiry into her death. 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. Sadly what is happening to me now seems entirely in keeping with the past BBC culture of whitewash and cover-up."

He added: "Naturally, I am now left with no choice but to take legal action against the BBC. They have taken away a career I love and I will not allow them to destroy my reputation."

Blackburn went on to say that Smith had seen BBC records claiming he was allegedly interviewed by a senior figure at the corporation about the contents of the 15-year-old girl's diary before her death.

The DJ said that he had told Smith and the BBC that he had never been interviewed in this context.

The 73-year-old posted his statement in its entirety on Twitter and said he is "devastated" to be leaving the BBC.

The report, which is being published over three years after the initial inquiry was launched, is expected to offer a severely critical assessment of the BBC's culture and practices. 

The corporation has said that it will not be commenting on claims that Blackburn had been sacked.

According to the BBC website, Blackburn is still scheduled to present his upcoming Radio 2 vintage chart Pick of the Pops show but DJs Jaki Graham and Lemar will sit in for him for scheduled BBC Radio London shows.