[Red Moon]

BBC under fire as John Barrowman exposes himself live on air

The BBC was back apologising today after Doctor Who actor John Barrowman exposed himself on a live Radio 1 show which was recorded on webcam.

Ten days after the corporation’s management insisted it had learnt its lesson on lewd content from the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand scandal, Switch show presenter Nick Grimshaw invited his guest to reveal himself.

Co-presenting with Annie Mac on Monday night’s show, Grimshaw said to Barrowman: “You’re famous, we’re told, for getting your willy out in interviews. Is this going to happen today?”

Barrowman responded by saying he was going to “get it out”, sparking a cacophony of shouting and laughter.

The actor, who has his own Doctor Who spin-off show - Torchwood, later told listeners: “I didn’t take the whole thing out, but I got my fruit and nuts out.”

Mac apologised at the end of the programme for any offence caused and Barrowman swiftly issued a statement today.

"I was joining in the light-hearted and fun banter of the show and went too far,” he said. “I was wrong to do this and it will never happen again.”

The actor, who has also appeared in West End shows, added: "I really appreciate the great support I have received from the BBC over the last few years and would never intentionally do anything to undermine the integrity of the corporation."

Today, a BBC spokeswoman admitted that the Switch show had “overstepped the mark”, but emphasised that nothing untoward was screened online and that the corporation had received only one complaint.

But the incident will be an embarrassment to BBC management who have spent the past month reassessing compliance procedures after comedians Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand left a lewd message on 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs’ answerphone.

The message, alleging Brand had slept with the Fawlty Towers actor’s granddaughter, was aired on Brand’s Radio 2 programme and sparked 27,000 complaints.

Brand, Radio 2 Head of compliance Dave Barber, and the station’s controller Lesley Douglas all resigned. Ross was suspended for three months.

BBC management has since insisted it is “determined to act on the lessons learnt from this incident, in particular to reinforce adherence to the BBC’s compliance systems.” It has also pledged harsher punishments for presenters who breach guidelines.

Source: The Times