The BBC has released findings from an independent review conducted by Change Associates, which was commissioned in response to the scandal involving former newsreader Huw Edwards. The former News at Ten presenter was convicted of several child pornography offences in 2024.

The review concluded that while the BBC does not have a “toxic” workplace culture, it must take significant steps to prevent abuse of power and improve how it addresses inappropriate behaviour. This includes quicker responses to misconduct, clearer rules, improved case management, and better mechanisms for raising and acting on concerns.​

The report, which received input from over 2,000 staff members, found the taxpayer-funded corporation should be intervening earlier as well as being much clearer on the standards of behaviour expected from its high-profile staff. The BBC has now promised to implement its “single biggest set of cultural changes” after an independent probe found shortcomings in how it tackles inappropriate behaviour.

The internal review follows a series of high-profile controversies, including bullying allegations and inappropriate conduct by prominent figures like Edwards, Gregg Wallace, and Tim Westwood. The BBC has already invested heavily, spending over £1.3 million on previous investigations, with further costs expected from this ongoing review.

The findings, set to be made public imminently, will explicitly spell out to all staff what is expected from them in an attempt to prevent the corporation from being brought into disrepute. A BBC source said: “This report is a pivotal moment for the BBC. It’s a strong report, following a huge amount of work. There are clear, practical recommendations for change that the BBC will embrace. All organisations face challenges, and the BBC is no exception. Now is the opportunity to deliver real change.”

In April 2024, Huw was permitted to step down from his £200k a year BBC job on medical grounds, months after The Sun revealed he had paid a vulnerable young man £35,000 for explicit pictures.

By July, he was formally charged with creating indecent images. In September, he pleaded guilty to three counts and was handed a suspended six-month prison sentence.

Most recently, Edwards came under fire after BBC bosses disclosed that he considered returning £200,000 of his salary following his arrest on paedophile charges but ultimately chose to keep the money.

During a parliamentary hearing, BBC chairman Samir Shah revealed that at one point, it seemed as though Edwards might “do the right thing for a change.” However, the former News at Ten presenter opted to hold onto the disputed sum – which is a portion of his publicly funded salary.

The mother who exposed Edwards after he paid her son £35,000 for explicit images expressed outrage, asking: “Does this man not have an ounce of shame? How can he keep this money after what he’s done?” BBC director-general Tim Davie stated that the corporation had taken legal advice on the matter but found no way to reclaim the funds.

Dr Shah and Mr Davie appeared before the Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Committee to discuss ongoing reviews into high-profile scandals. When asked by Lib Dem MP Liz Jarvis whether they had managed to recover the money from Edwards, Dr Shah admitted: “We have not.

“We’ve asked repeatedly, but he refuses. For a brief moment, we thought he might actually take responsibility, but he decided against it. It’s incredibly frustrating because it’s the right thing to do. He still has the chance to return it. This is taxpayer money, and given what he’s done, he shouldn’t be holding onto it.”