BBC admits their stars 'have the potential to abuse their position'

Powerful showbusiness figures boasting star status have the potential to 'abuse their position', the BBC admitted yesterday as a major review of its workplace culture began.

With the corporation still reeling from a series of scandals involving high-profile individuals, the terms of reference of the new inquiry stressed the importance of rooting out 'unacceptable behaviour' through a 'zero-tolerance approach'.

Meanwhile, BBC chairman Samir Shah insisted that nobody 'should ever feel fear or worry' while working for the broadcaster. 

It came after the BBC Board announced in August that it was commissioning the independent review in the wake of the Huw Edwards scandal. 

Other recent controversies include the sacking of Jermaine Jenas for sending explicit texts to two women and the treatment of contestants on Strictly Come Dancing.

According to the terms of the Respect At Work Review – which was published yesterday – there are 'hierarchies and individuals with power and influence over others' in all organisations.

The document states: 'There is also the potential for individuals with power from a significant public profile, leadership role, or star status to abuse their position. 

'At the BBC, we have a responsibility to ensure we have the right culture, not only to enable people to do their best work, free from abuse, but to ensure the same values, expectations, and standards apply, regardless of the person involved.'

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It states that the management is 'committed to the best possible processes and work environment to ensure a respectful and accountable workplace', adding: 'Ensuring best practice and a consistent approach requires not only constant focus, but a zero-tolerance approach towards unacceptable behaviour.' 

Among the stated aims are making sure 'the consequences of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power are understood by everyone and that significant issues are dealt with as soon as they are identified'. 

Other goals outlined include assessing 'whether there is more we can do to ensure people feel confident to speak up'.

Announcing the start of the review in an email to staff, Mr Shah wrote: 'I cannot emphasise enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or abusive behaviour. 

'For most of us it is a joy to work for the BBC and that should be the case for everyone. Nobody working in the BBC should ever feel fear or worry while working here.

'What is clear to me is that we must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure and welcoming workplace for everyone.'

The review will be led by Grahame Russell, the executive chairman and founder of consultancy firm Change Associates, and the report is expected to be made public next spring. It will focus on 'preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the BBC conducts themselves in line' with BBC values, the corporation said.

It will also look at how long it takes BBC management to probe allegations after they are made, following previous claims from insiders that the corporation had sometimes 'ignored' complaints about its stars.

BBC News has featured whistleblowers who had raised concerns about the behaviour of Edwards in the workplace.

It subsequently reported that whistleblowers who took part in the BBC's internal inquiry into him were 'disappointed' with the way it was handled.

The final report from Change Associates, which previously worked on the BBC's 2013 'respect at work' review, is expected to make recommendations on practical steps the Corporation can take to 'further strengthen workplace culture'.

Last month Huw Edwards was given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.