Tony Blackburn sacked

Oh dear. He always just seemed pleasantly daft. Don't suppose we'll ever know the truth. Another one bites the dust....

I have always really liked Tony Blackburn. I'm shocked at this news.

He is not accused of inappropriate behaviour it's all to do with the Saville scandal

If this is character assassination I seriously hope Tony Blackburn is able to clear his name. I'm shocked at the thought of him being involved in anything like this.
But then again, I never in a million years would have thought Rolf Harris would be guilty of such depravity...

No he isn't, nina, but nevertheless his reputation is called into question by having a claim, which was quickly withdrawn, included in the Savile report.

He's been sacked by the BBC for disagreeing with their version of events , not for being involved.

What a shame he has been tainted like this. I will miss him, his shows on Radio 2 and Radio Berkshire became part of our weekend. I enjoyed the music he played and the fact he so obviously loved it too.

His name was cleared back when the thing kicked off.

I'm just amazed the Beeb are heading up every news broadcast with this. Is it really the most important thing on the agenda at the moment?

We haven't heard the Beeb's take on it yet. Laters. Apparently.

I feel sorry for TB too - - you are instantly tainted when the press link your name with a scandal and he is supposedly out of the BBC for disagreeing with their version of events surrounding the JS scandal. Someone did a cover-up there it seems and maybe he is telling it as it was -- it will be interesting to see what the Beeb make up says in their statement.

The BBC say he was interviewed by two top BBC men when the allegation came to light. He says neither men interviewed him. That is why they are sacking him because of his version of events differs from theirs.

The girl withdrew her complaint.

I think the BBC have lost the plot and we will lose an excellent DJ who has given years of good service.

No one is safe who works for the BBC IMO.

I feel sorry for Cliff R too. It just drags on and on.

This sends shivers down my spine because Claire was at my dancing school and I inherited several of her costumes.

There was something"going on" and the story is not being fully told, but 45 years ago things were different. I agree the BBC doesn't need to make it such an important issue. It wouldn't happen in today's world, so move on.

I think the reason the BBC make these things such a big issue is because of a previous lack of duty of care where young visitors to the BBC were concerned. They need to react where there is evidence but are over-reacting in order to distance themselves from any allegations of complicity in a cover-up.

Who is Claire? Is this the right thread

I think Clare was the young girl who was said to have been abused. She took her own life. Her mother later withdrew the complaint.

The Beeb statement is due out this morning.

From what I heard on Today, there was a bunch of dj's charged with it. He was amongst them.

I am thoroughly disgusted at the BBC for putting Tony Blackburn in this position. Just who do they think they are? I for one will switch off now and use alternative ways to listen to music, Saturday's will never be the same.

In a way this thread links with yesterday's about 'Fear of Flying' and over-sexualised content of programmes. Maybe the pervs in the beeb are trying to cover up the past by trying to make these attitudes seem normal today?

People were not so aware of the laws on underage sex in the 60's and senior management did not know how to deal with these things and swept it under the carpet not only at the BBC but at the hospitals where Jimmy Saville was visiting. They found it difficult to believe this sort of thing was happening as some people still do today when faced with it.

Now professionals know they will be in trouble if they don't act and have policies to guide their actions when told a child is being abused but it didn't stop the problems in Rotherham and many other cases.

Unfortunately a lot of people will decide that Tony Blackburn is tainted because of this.
It sounds to me that he was challenging the BBC's claim that they interviewed the accused DJs, including himself.

He was challenging their cover up and the BBC responded by sacking him.

It does sound diabolical. Poor chap.

I wonder if it has been at the head of the news because the producers and others presently at the Beeb, are on his side.

I agree with FarNorth I get the impression that TB has challenged the top brass within the BBC and they don't like it.

Typical behaviour of this outdated, dinosaur of a corporation.

What's he done to deserve the sacking then? I'd like to know.
Its convenient that any record of these supposed interviews are either sketchy at best or conveniently lost. Stinks to me, I hope he fights to clear his name if as I hope his is the truthful version of events.

But hang on, it COULD all be true, couldn't it, and a young girl lost her life perhaps because of what happened to her. We don't know. I don't see why the BBC would be able to sack a man because they didn't agree with the statement he made. I do think though that there should be a sell by date on these accusations, say 5 years. How can anything be proved or not proved all these years later.

Why are the sadly predictable vultures gathering already? Blackburn has not been either accused of, or is implicated in any cases of abuse. It appears that all he's done is to challenge the Beeb's "official" version of what went on around that Saville creature. Some of the comments on here do get me worrying about how safe the Jury system is... :-(