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Radio DJ Tony Blackburn has been sacked by the BBC after a new report linked him to a Jimmy Savile sex probe.
The Dame Janet Smith review report, looked into Savile’s time as a sexual predator at the corporation, criticises the BBC for covering up 1971 claims a girl of 15 was “seduced” by a DJ referred to as ‘A7’ in drafts of the report.
The Mirror can today name ‘A7’ as Tony Blackburn and as a result of the report’s allegations, he has been axed by the BBC.
But Blackburn insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing and he is “devastated” by his sacking.
The 73-year-old, who currently broadcasts a popular Saturday show on Radio 2 that attracts millions, has been accused in Dame Janet Smith’s report of not being properly questioned over allegations of seducing 15-year-old Clair McAlpine.
Top of the Pops dancer Clair killed herself weeks after the alleged sexual encounter .
The teenager wrote about the sordid incident in an intimate diary her mum Vera found in February 1971.
Extracts from the leaked draft of the Savile Review reveal Mrs McAlpine made a formal complaint to the Beeb but it was brushed aside.
She rang the BBC saying one of their stars had seduced her underage daughter and demanding to speak to the chairman but was told this was impossible.
Just a month later Clair died after taking an overdose of sleeping pills at home in Watford, Herts.
Dame Janet’s report says BBC managers and police investigating the allegation paid mere lip service to it.
They took the DJ’s denial at face value - even though it did not match his agent’s account of events - together with his claim that Clair lived in a “fantasy world”.
In an extraordinary statement, Tony Blackburn said: “This week, two days before the publication of the Dame Janet Smith Report, the BBC informed me that all relationships I had with them were being terminated with immediate effect.
"I am told that the decision was taken, personally, by the Director General. Quite naturally, I am devastated.
“The reasons for the BBC taking this decision are that my evidence to Dame Janet Smith shows, I believe, that a cover up took place - one that I had no knowledge of. This goes against what the BBC believe.
“In 1971 allegations were made by the mother of a 15-year-old girl whose diary apparently contained suggestions that she had been seduced by celebrities including me.
"I am told that the mother told the BBC, a few weeks after her initial complaint, that her daughter had withdrawn the allegation against me.
"I have never seen the diary and neither has anyone at the BBC or the Dame Janet Review.
"That same year this seemingly troubled teenager, tragically took her own life.
“Dame Janet’s report makes no suggestion that I was guilty 45 years ago of any misconduct whatsoever with this girl.
PADame Janet SmithDame Janet Smith has published a report about the BBC and child abuse
"Nor did a Coroner’s inquest into her death or a subsequent police inquiry.
"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.
GettyTony Blackburn adjusting his headphones at the opening of BBC Radio's pop music station, Radio 1 on 4th October 1967Tony Blackburn has said he will fight to save his reputation
“I was not guilty of any inappropriate conduct; my lawyers will take immediate action against anyone suggesting that I was.
“According to BBC records seen by Dame Janet, I was allegedly interviewed about the girls’ diary before her death in 1971 by a very senior figure at the BBC, Bill Cotton Jr.
TMSTony Blackburn at the ICCTony Blackburn has claimed he is innocent of all the claims made about him
"I was also, supposedly, interviewed by Brian Neill QC as part of his report in to the Payola scandal at the BBC.
“I have repeatedly told Dame Janet and the BBC I was never interviewed by either man in this context and the BBC records are either very vague or have, conveniently, disappeared.
"Regardless of these facts, the BBC is axing me after five decades of broadcasting.
"Sadly what is happening to me now seems to be entirely in keeping with the past BBC culture of whitewash and cover-up.
“In 1967, I proudly opened Radio 1 for the BBC.
"Over the past 49 years I have enjoyed my time working for them immensely and I am grateful to my millions of listeners for their continued support over the decades.
“Sadly, despite being aware of my evidence for many months, if not years, the BBC have decided to make me a scapegoat and have taken away any future opportunity I have to broadcast for them.
“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.”
Dame Janet’s review found no attempt was made by the BBC to interview either Clair or Mrs McAlpine.
It does confirm the DJ was interviewed twice by BBC executives and by an independent barrister.
Dame Janet also said it was “hard to fathom” why the BBC had lost or destroyed call logs from the time.
Speaking at the front door of their multi-million pound detached mock-Tudor property, Mr Blackburn’s wife of 24 years Debbie Blackburn said the couple would not be speaking aside from the statement.
She said: “We are not going to enter into any conversation of any type. There is no comment to be made.”
Dame Janet, 75, review in Savile has taken four years and will reveal he abused 45 victims, included several rapes on BBC premises before he died in 2011.
After some of the report was leaked in January, BBC Director-general Tony Hall said: “Firstly, my thoughts and all our thoughts are with the victims of Jimmy Savile and their families. What happened was a dark chapter in the history of the BBC.
“Dame Janet Smith’s report will be invaluable in helping us understand what happened and to help ensure that we do everything possible to avoid it happening again.”
