A second prominent presenter has been sidelined by BBC Scotland due to allegations of misconduct during a live broadcast.
Andrew Black, a news anchor for Reporting Scotland, has been removed from his role shortly after Kaye Adams, known for her work on Loose Women, was taken off her radio show amidst bullying allegations.
The BBC is currently investigating claims that Mr. Black displayed a ‘cheeky’ message in the Reporting Scotland studio, which was visible during a live broadcast.
Having been with the BBC for nearly two decades, Mr. Black is now under investigation for alleged misconduct that occurred during the show on Sunday, October 12.
His removal follows just six days after the BBC initiated an official inquiry, as reported by the Mail on Sunday, into accusations of bullying by Kaye Adams.
Last week, Adams expressed to the Mail on Sunday that she endured “three of the most distressing weeks of my professional life,” and lamented that her “previously untarnished name” had been “publicly dragged through the mud.”
Despite being taken off air almost four weeks ago, Ms Adams has still not been presented with any details about the complaints which the Mail on Sunday understands include ‘shouting and screaming’ at junior colleagues.
She has denied any behaviour of this sort.
Andrew Black, BBC Scotland presenter, was taken off air after a sign appeared on set
The sign on the BBC Reporting Scotland set featured during the live broadcast on October 12
Mr Black in the studio with the offending sign
In the latest saga from Pacific Quay, BBC sources claim Mr Black was not happy about the fact the news broadcast, which usually starts at 7pm on Sundays, was delayed by 30 minutes due to the coverage of Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus.
The live football coverage led to Reporting Scotland starting at 7.30pm instead.
At the start of the broadcast the central pillar in the studio which displays the programme title had a piece of paper with the number ‘30’ written on it stuck beside the ‘Reporting Scotland News at Seven’ banner.
A BBC source said: ‘Some viewers or outsiders may see this as a cheeky sign or a joke, but it’s a big no-no in the industry. The studio should not be defaced at all. The worst thing in all this is that it went out on air and was broadcast. The bosses were absolutely furious.
‘Nobody found it funny. It is completely unacceptable.’
‘[Andrew was] told the following day he was being taken off air while it was probed.’
Mr Black, who also presents BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme, the Sunday Show and Good Morning Scotland, has not returned to the airwaves or TV screens since the incident three weeks ago.
His removal came days after long-standing BBC Radio host Kaye Adams was suspended from the station amid complaints of alleged bullying by the star.
Ms Adams, 62, has retained her position as a host of ITV’s Loose Women and appeared on the show on Friday for the first time since her removal from BBC Scotland.
Kaye Adams has also been taken off air as BBC continue their investigation into her
She has denied claims that she shouted and screamed at junior producers and said she has yet to be presented with any complaints by the BBC – almost a month after her suspension on October 6.
Sources inside the BBC have questioned whether Ms Adam’s suspension is an attempt by new BBC bosses to put their stamp on the Scotland operation, while others say it is a fresh push to get tough on poor workplace behaviour which has given staff the confidence to come forward with concerns.
We previously revealed how friends close to the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant feared there was now a witchhunt against her at BBC Scotland’s Glasgow headquarters.
Some current staff said they were ‘not surprised’ by the allegations with one person stating: ‘There is no mourning going on’.
However Ms Adams has had the backing of high-profile TV figures such as Loose Women colleagues Nadia Sawalha and Denise Welch, and former BBC Scotland boss Jeff Zycinsky.
Former deputy head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland Val Atkinson has also questioned the corporation’s employment practices over the Kaye Adams saga.
She said: ‘The BBC talks about values, but it should be in their values to treat people who have been the voice and face of the BBC with some degree of respect.’
The radio side of BBC Scotland is among the areas being shaken up under new head of audio and events Victoria Easton Riley.
Last week it was announced Good Morning Scotland, which has been running since 1973 and was the most listened to show on the station, was being scrapped and replaced by a new morning show called Radio Scotland Breakfast.
It is to be hosted by presenters Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver.
Mr Black was contacted for comment but did not respond.
BBC Scotland said: ‘We don’t comment on individuals.’
