(*5*)Livesey stepped again from his weekday late evening speak present final month following allegations made towards his former newspaper boss David Sullivan.
(*5*)He had beforehand labored as editor-in-chief of Sullivan’s Daily and Sunday Sport publications.
(*5*)Several ladies have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner, of abusing his energy and preying on them for intercourse, in some circumstances once they have been youngsters. Sullivan has strongly denied the allegations.
(*5*)The claims towards Sullivan have been made in a joint investigation by the Times and BBC Panorama.
(*5*)The BBC beforehand stated Livesey had requested to take a break from presenting his programme whereas the problems raised by the investigation have been being examined.
(*5*)One alleged sufferer stated that Livesey had organized a gathering between her and Sullivan in 1999.
(*5*)Livesey stated he had “no recollection” of introducing the younger lady to Sullivan and that it was “not part” of his job to take action.
(*5*)He added that he had “great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim”, however rejected any suggestion that he had performed “any role whatsoever in that scenario” and stated he discovered the allegation “abhorrent”.
(*5*)In an electronic mail despatched to 5 Live workers on Monday morning, the station’s controller Heidi Dawson stated he had now determined to depart.
(*5*)”Tony has asked me to pass on his heartfelt thanks to the brilliant colleagues at 5 Live who he has had the pleasure of working with over the years.
“I do know lots of you’ve additionally actually loved working with Tony, and we want him effectively for all his future endeavours.”
The presenter worked for the BBC from 2006, the year he left the newspaper, appearing on 5 Live from 2010 onwards including helming its drivetime show.
He won radio awards – ARIA and APAs – for his reporting on how it feels to lose your mother as a child, and an ARIAS Gold award after he was asked by the late Dame Deborah James to conduct her final interview.
His topical three-hour programme was broadcast on 5 Live from Monday to Thursday, that includes interviews and telephone calls from listeners.
