- Tommy Sandhu was one of four colleagues allegedly part of a WhatsApp group
- The group made sexist comments and homophobic remarks in the chat
- BBC opened an investigation and have now sacked the Asian Network DJ
BBC Asian Network’s Tommy Sandhu (pictured) has been sacked over Whatsapp messages sent to a female radio producer
The BBC has fired a star Asian Network radio host in a row over racist and sexual slurs – and fears an embarrassing employment tribunal.
Tommy Sandhu – who also fronted BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live – was suspended last month when it emerged he was part of vile phone messaging groups.
At least four Asian Network staff had used the WhatsApp messaging service to share sexual comments about female colleagues, as well as homophobic slurs and a derogatory term for Pakistanis.
The BBC refused to confirm Mr Sandhu had been sacked, but said allegations of inappropriate behaviour were always taken extremely seriously.
BBC insiders are braced for an embarrassing unfair dismissal case.
Mr Sandhu, 40, said: ‘At this stage I am taking legal advice, but I want to underline that at no point did I engage, comment or reply to any racist comment on any WhatsApp group.’
Mr Sandhu claimed he was being punished for failing to police comments by others in the group.
WhatsApp is encrypted but these messages were accidentally linked to a BBC laptop where they were found by assistant producer Amanpreet Kaur, about whom the men had made sexist comments.
While Mr Sandhu was initially suspended, the Corporation got rid of two of the other men, while a fourth was allowed to stay with a written warning.
One of the men in the messaging group allegedly made lewd remarks about Amy Elizabeth Childs, 31, a Radio 1 and 1Xtra producer with aspirations to be a presenter (pictured)