Presenter Tony Livesey has left BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years with the station, the broadcaster confirmed. Livesey had stepped back from his late-night talk show last month following allegations made against David Sullivan, his former newspaper boss.
Livesey previously served as editor-in-chief for Sullivan's Daily and Sunday Sport publications. A number of women have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and co-owner of West Ham United, of abusing his power and soliciting sexual encounters, with some accusations dating back to their teenage years. Sullivan has vehemently denied these allegations.
The claims against Sullivan were detailed in a joint investigation by The Times and BBC Panorama. At the time of the investigation's publication, the BBC stated that Livesey had requested a leave of absence from his program while the issues raised were under review.
One woman who came forward with allegations stated that Livesey arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999. Livesey has stated that he has "no recollection" of introducing the woman to Sullivan and that it was not part of his job duties. He expressed "great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim" but rejected any implication of his involvement in the situation, describing the allegation as "abhorrent."
In an email to 5 Live staff on Monday, the station's controller, Heidi Dawson, announced Livesey's departure. "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," Dawson wrote. "I know many of you have also really enjoyed working with Tony, and we wish him well for all his future endeavors."
Livesey joined the BBC in 2006, the same year he left the newspaper industry. He began appearing on BBC Radio 5 Live in 2010, and at one point hosted the station's drivetime show. His work has earned him awards, including an ARIA and APAs for his reporting on childhood bereavement and an ARIAS Gold award for conducting the final interview requested by the late Dame Deborah James. His topical, three-hour program, which included listener calls and interviews, aired on 5 Live from Monday to Thursday.