Tony Livesey leaves BBC amid David Sullivan allegations
Tony Livesey leaves BBC amid David Sullivan allegations
Ben RumsbyMon, August 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM UTC
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Tony Livesey has left the BBC two months after he was named in a Panorama investigation into David Sullivan - Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Tony Livesey has left the BBC less than two months after being named in a Panorama investigation into David Sullivan.
Livesey, who was editor-in-chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport and subsequently had a 16-year career at Radio 5 Live, temporarily stepped down in June.
The 62-year-old did so after Panorama said he had set up a 1990s meeting between a glamour model and Sullivan, who was accused by the programme of historic predatory and exploitative behaviour.
Livesey said he had “no recollection” of introducing the young woman to Sullivan, who also denied any wrongdoing.
The programme additionally claimed that Livesey had come up with the idea of “Countdown to 16”, a Sport feature chronicling how long before a teenage model turned 16, the age at which they could legally be pictured topless for the first time.
Livesey, who went on to host a late-night phone-in show on Radio 5 Live from Mondays to Thursdays, said in a statement to Panorama that the feature was “categorically” not his idea and that parts of a book he had written, in which the feature was discussed, had been “fictionalised”.
In an email sent to 5 Live staff on Monday morning, Heidi Dawson, the station’s controller, said Livesey had decided to leave.
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She added: “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 know many of you have also really enjoyed working with Tony, and we wish him well for all his future endeavours.”
The BBC had previously been “considering” serious allegations made by Panorama against Sullivan, who co-owns West Ham United.
A spokesman said at the time: “The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously. We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations.
“He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised by the programme. We will not be commenting further at this stage.”
Sullivan, who stepped down from his position as West Ham’s joint chairman in June, as well as resigning as club director, said in a statement through lawyers: “I categorically deny all of these complaints.”
Livesey worked for BBC Radio Lancashire before fronting sport coverage on the regional TV programme North West Tonight before moving to Radio 5 Live.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
