Former BBC presenter Jack Murley is seeking £48,000 in compensation after he was sacked over ‘deeply inappropriate’ radio segments that went ‘well beyond innuendo’
A BBC presenter has said he thought he was acting within the broadcaster’s guidelines after he was sacked for “inappropriate” radio segments. Jack Murley was employed by BBC Radio Cornwall from 2019 until he was taken off air in 2023.
He worked in Truro until a “heated conversation” with his boss over his social media use. Murley believed he was “acting within the BBC’s social media guidelines”, a tribunal heard.
He had shared his views on social media since 2022 about the BBC’s Local Value For All project. Questions were also raised about his radio segment, Loosest Goose, which was a satirical show that included innuendo.
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At the disciplinary hearing, it was described as being “deeply inappropriate” and “well beyond innuendo”. A BBC senior news editor told the tribunal they had been “clear and straightforward decision” to consider the case as “gross misconduct.”
Murley said he would have been willing to make changes to his show or “undertake training” to keep his job. He told the tribunal if concerns were raised, he would have acted to address them.
The presenter is seeking £48,000 in compensation. The BBC said they removed Murley from his post because of a “heated conversation” with his manager.
Murley said the row stemmed from his social media use. A BBC Wales senior news editor was at the hearing and said social media posts were viewed in the same light as a broadcast.
Tomos Livingstone described the Loosest Goose as “awful” and told the hearing it “shouldn’t be broadcast on radio Cornwall at midday on a Sunday”.
The editor said Murley “should have had the knowledge and experience to be compliant with the guidelines.” He added that it had been a “clear and straightforward decision” to consider the case as “gross misconduct”.
Livingstone said the BBC felt Murley had been too great a “risk” to the corporation. Murley’s disciplinary hearing went to appeal and the hearing manager upheld the decision.
BBC Northern Ireland director Adam Smyth said the corporation has to “be sure that our presenters are trustworthy.” Mr Smyth told the tribunal that Murley was “effectively working off grid”.
Murley told the tribunal he had several examples of managers endorsing his innuendo in his radio show. The former presenter said after 13 years with the BBC, it was not “reasonable” to leave immediately after no previous causes for concern.
He questioned how he was to know the show had breached guidelines and said: “I thought I was in the right. I think there was a way back, I wanted to stay at the BBC, I loved the BBC.” The tribunal continues.
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