EXCLUSIVE: The boss of the BBC’s flagship breakfast information present had his powers beefed up after dealing with allegations of bullying, favoritism, and shaking a feminine colleague, Deadline can reveal.

Richard Frediani is arguably the BBC’s strongest information government outdoors of London, main BBC Breakfast to awards success and agenda-setting tales. However behind the present’s well-known crimson couch, and the welcoming faces of presenters like Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, there was disquiet about his management. 

Deadline has spoken to 9 BBC insiders about Frediani, with sources detailing a minimum of two office misconduct complaints since he turned the editor of Breakfast in September 2019, one among which was the topic of a proper grievance course of final 12 months. The BBC declined to touch upon particular person HR issues. Frediani didn’t reply to a request for remark. 

Frediani, who likes to be recognized by his college nickname “Fredi,” is described by insiders as a “bruiser” from a bygone period of newsroom tradition. Sources alleged that they’ve felt shouted at when errors have been made on-air, whereas one individual witnessed Frediani stroll out of the manufacturing gallery and kick a wastebasket. Staff additionally expressed unease a couple of tradition of favoritism.

Though his information credentials are praised by colleagues, those that spoke with Deadline stated the previous ITV Information government’s conduct doesn’t at all times accord with BBC values round respect and equity. One worker stated Frediani is seen as “untouchable” and individuals are “scared to talk out” due to the ability he has collected in Salford, the BBC’s headquarters within the north of England, the place Breakfast relies.

Frediani “Shook” Feminine Colleague

In a single incident, highlighted by a number of insiders for example of his conduct crossing knowledgeable boundary, Frediani allegedly bodily shook a lower-ranking feminine editor throughout a newsroom alternate in February 2024. The incident was investigated by the BBC and the girl’s criticism was upheld. The feminine editor, whom Deadline has chosen to not title, didn’t reply when contacted for remark.

Quickly after the matter was resolved, Frediani’s function was expanded final Might when the BBC’s Information at One was moved to Salford, giving him management of the bulletin along with modifying Breakfast. The 2 exhibits are comfortably the highest-rated of their slots and provides Frediani vital affect over the tone and agenda of BBC Information’ output on BBC One. It’s not recognized if Frediani was topic to disciplinary motion after the grievance, however his elevated energy base raised questions internally about whether or not the BBC is taking robust sufficient motion in opposition to these accused of inappropriate conduct. 

Giving proof to UK Parliament’s Tradition, Media and Sport Committee this week, BBC Director Basic Tim Davie stated the company has “zero tolerance” for misconduct, even when an worker considers it to be a “marginal” criticism about wrongdoing. “Everyone seems to be dispensable,” he advised lawmakers about disciplinary processes. 

Regardless of the emphatic feedback, Deadline can reveal that the BBC is failing to take disciplinary motion in opposition to the vast majority of people when it upholds complaints of wrongdoing. Figures obtained underneath a Freedom of Data (FOI) Act request present that the BBC has upheld 39 bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment instances over the previous three years, however solely 13 folks have confronted disciplinary motion and one staffer was dismissed. It means punishment was solely meted out in round a 3rd of profitable complaints. Of the 72 grievances upheld or partially upheld by the BBC over the previous 5 years, solely two staff have misplaced their jobs.

BBC administration’s place is that every one complaints are handled significantly, however disciplinary motion varies relying on the circumstances of the case. There are a number of punishments the BBC can implement, together with written warnings, dismissal, and redeployment or demotion. BBC insurance policies state that written warnings solely have a 12-month shelf-life, however can stay on an individual’s document for longer in distinctive circumstances.

Second Frediani Grievance

Deadline is conscious of a minimum of one different event when a BBC worker felt compelled to contact HR colleagues about Frediani. Sources stated a former Breakfast staffer first raised issues with managers and HR in 2020. This particular person, whom Deadline is just not naming, initially flagged allegations that Frediani was bullying a colleague. Following the criticism, the worker is alleged to have felt actively sidelined and belittled.

One individual accustomed to the matter alleged that Frediani shouted and swore on the staffer, treating them “considerably in a different way” from these he thought of to be loyalists. In a single explicit incident, the supply accused Frediani of “barging into” the manufacturing gallery and “banging his fist on a glass wall” as he reprimanded colleagues for an on-air error. The supply stated “nothing occurred” when issues had been flagged. The unnamed former Breakfast staffer declined to remark.

The individual’s issues had been raised after the Mail on Sunday reported on a “bullying tradition” at Breakfast in Might 2020. The newspaper wrote that there had been 5 complaints to managers and HR, which don’t embrace these referenced by Deadline. Employees stated they felt shouted at and that Frediani “will get very cross commonly.” The newspaper additionally reported that he had created a “boys membership” of favorites. 

Insiders confirmed to Deadline that they’ve witnessed a “clubbable” ambiance at Breakfast. Accusations ranged from Frediani failing to deal with sure colleagues when getting into a room and excluding folks from jokes, to extra critical issues about folks being stripped of decision-making energy. That is seen as being out of step with BBC values, which state that leaders ought to “construct a crew surroundings the place we deal with everybody pretty and equally.”

Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative MP who chairs the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee, advised Deadline that the allegations about Frediani are “deeply disappointing and irritating,” and a part of a “conveyor belt of unacceptable behaviour on the BBC.” On the FOI figures about upheld grievances, she added: “The dearth of disciplinary motion being taken provides a worrying impression that the company is failing to deal with the problem with the seriousness it deserves.”

Sources stated it was inconceivable that BBC Information bosses weren’t conscious of the complaints in opposition to Frediani earlier than handing him elevated energy final 12 months. Frediani experiences to John McAndrew, director of reports programmes and a key lieutenant of Deborah Turness, the previous NBC Information government who serves as BBC Information CEO. The BBC refused to reply questions on whether or not Turness, who sits on the BBC board, was conscious of the issues.

Though faraway from day-to-day operations in London and considerably out of the view of senior leaders, Frediani is a serious presence on every day editorial calls. He has remodeled Breakfast into an engine room of reports, delivering scoops on Captain Tom Moore’s pandemic heroics and Manchester United participant Marcus Rashford’s combat without cost college meals, the latter of which gained a Royal Tv Society award. “He’s a workaholic and an excellent journalist,” stated one admirer.

Office Tradition Evaluate

Deadline’s revelations about Frediani come at a time when the BBC is dealing with scrutiny over office misconduct. In latest weeks, the company has revealed two critiques into the historic conduct of presenters Russell Model and Tim Westwood, each of which revealed failings in BBC processes round complaints dealing with. Model and Westwood deny wrongdoing.

Through the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee listening to this week, BBC boss Davie pointed to enhancements in recent times, however stated that the company should get to a spot the place it may possibly “flawlessly” say it doesn’t settle for energy abuses within the office. Throughout the identical listening to, BBC Chair Samir Shah burdened: “There are highly effective folks behind the scenes … they don’t have a proper to abuse. Nobody is untouchable. Nobody is greater than the BBC.”

The BBC will think about additional modifications to complaints processes as a part of a office tradition assessment at present being carried out by administration consultancy Change Associates. A number of sources advised Deadline that Frediani’s conduct has been raised in interviews with Change Associates representatives. The BBC is predicted to publish the assessment in April. 

Dinenage, the lawmaker who chairs the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee, stated: “We heard heat phrases from chair Samir Shah this week that he needs the BBC to be taking the lead in relation to setting behaviour requirements within the media. The BBC’s response to the forthcoming impartial assessment into office tradition will likely be a chance to display what concrete actions he and the BBC will take to root out dangerous behaviour, be it behind or in entrance of the digicam.”