Tony Livesey has ended his tenure at BBC Radio 5 Live, the corporation announced. The presenter had been with the station since 2010 and most recently hosted a weekday late night talk show featuring interviews and listener call-ins.
Livesey stepped back from on-air duties in June after a joint investigation by the Times and BBC Panorama raised allegations against David Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner whom Livesey previously worked for as editor-in-chief of his newspaper publications. Multiple women have accused Sullivan of abusing his power and engaging in sexual misconduct, including in cases involving teenagers. Sullivan has denied all allegations.
One alleged victim claimed that Livesey had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999. Livesey stated he had no memory of introducing the woman to Sullivan and that such introductions were not part of his responsibilities. He expressed sympathy for any potential victim while rejecting the suggestion that he played any role in the alleged scenario, describing the allegation as “abhorrent.”
The BBC previously indicated that Livesey had requested a break from presenting while the investigation’s implications were being reviewed. Heidi Dawson, the station’s controller, confirmed in a message to staff that Livesey has now decided to leave permanently. She noted that colleagues at 5 Live had valued working with him and expressed wishes for his future endeavors.
Livesey joined the BBC in 2006, the same year he left the newspaper industry. During his time at 5 Live, he hosted the drivetime program and his later evening show ran Monday through Thursday. He received multiple radio awards for his journalism, including recognition for personal reporting on losing a parent and for conducting a final interview with Dame Deborah James.
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