‘BBC Breakfast’ Boss Richard Frediani Faces Additional Bullying Claims

BBC Breakfast boss Richard Frediani is going through additional allegations of office bullying and misconduct, with senior presenter Naga Munchetty amongst these thought to have misgivings about his conduct.

Deadline revealed final month how Frediani was the topic of at the least two misconduct complaints, together with one from a girl who had her grievance upheld after claiming that the Breakfast editor bodily shook her throughout a newsroom trade final 12 months.

Now, Deadline can report that considerations about Frediani’s conduct run deeper on the BBC, whereas he has additionally been accused of behaving inappropriately at his earlier employer, ITN, the place he was overseen by the identical executives now working BBC Information. The BBC declined to touch upon particular person HR issues. Frediani’s place is that he was unaware of any complaints being made about his conduct at ITN. 

After 9 of Frediani’s colleagues spoke to Deadline for our authentic investigation, an additional 11 individuals have come ahead to debate their experiences. Seven of those people labored with Frediani at ITN, the place he held senior roles on the crew that produces ITV Information. We are able to reveal:

The allegations come because the BBC prepares to publish an exterior evaluation of its office tradition later this month, following a sequence of scandals in regards to the conduct of highly effective males. BBC director basic Tim Davie has mentioned he desires Change Associates, the administration consultancy main the evaluation, to make sensible suggestions about how managers can create a tradition the place there’s “zero tolerance” for wrongdoing. Davie instructed lawmakers final month that the BBC has improved its complaints dealing with and workers are extra assured in processes, however he mentioned that if there are examples of considerations not being handled severely, it’s a “grade one” concern.

Presenter Issues

4 individuals accustomed to the tensions over Frediani mentioned Munchetty, one in all Breakfast’s most distinguished hosts, has an uneasy relationship together with her editor and has spoken to BBC Information managers about her considerations. A journalist at a rival information group mentioned she is “fairly open” about her disquiet relating to his remedy of Breakfast staff. Munchetty didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Individually, three sources mentioned Radio 2 newsreader Tina Daheley has chosen to not seem on Frediani’s Information at One. She was named as a presenter on the bulletin final Could, however is claimed to have been deeply upset by how her appointment was introduced.

A press launch unveiling Information at One’s presenting line-up featured photos of all of the white information anchors however didn’t image Daheley, per an archived net web page. The BBC press workplace took full accountability for the error, which was rapidly corrected after Daheley voiced her dismay. A supply mentioned Frediani, who was quoted within the press launch, didn’t see the ultimate model earlier than it was revealed on the BBC web site. He later apologized to Daheley. Daheley didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Munchetty and Daheley have every labored on the BBC for greater than 17 years and each function among the many company’s highest-paid presenters. Munchetty juggles her Breakfast duties with Radio 5 Stay, whereas Daheley additionally hosts Factors of View and Information at Six.

Different BBC staff got here ahead with their experiences. One individual claimed to have witnessed an incident in 2019, throughout which a “clearly indignant” Frediani cornered a Breakfast colleague up in opposition to a wall and was “jabbing his finger” as he voiced displeasure about that morning’s present. Two sources alleged that Frediani is understood for “screaming” down the telephone at different BBC Information desks and complaining in regards to the high quality of content material they provide Breakfast.

Within the interval after Deadline’s first story about Frediani, insiders mentioned that he has behaved as whether it is enterprise as normal. The day after publication, Breakfast and Information at One workers have been emailed by John McAndrew, BBC Information’ director of programmes, to remind them in regards to the company’s strategy to complaints of wrongdoing.

“With regard to tradition and behavior – and this stands for all of our groups throughout the organisation – please be assured that if, or when, any allegations of any inappropriate behaviour come to me, they are going to be taken severely, comprehensively investigated, and if upheld, motion shall be taken,” McAndrew wrote.

Some at Breakfast have been doubtful about this message provided that Frediani has been the topic of complaints, and but has been rewarded with extra energy. Bosses knew that Frediani had been accused of shaking a feminine colleague final 12 months earlier than they expanded his duties to incorporate the Information at One. “Senior administration has been repeatedly instructed by numerous individuals that there’s a drawback, they usually haven’t performed something about it,” mentioned a BBC supply. 

“Tyrant On The Store Flooring”

Seven of Frediani’s former ITN colleagues, who spoke to Deadline on the situation of anonymity, recounted their experiences of his conduct. He did two spells at ITN, lasting a complete of practically 14 years, the newest of which was between 2012 and 2019, when he left to affix BBC Breakfast. 

Characterised as a “tyrant on the store ground,” former colleagues mentioned Frediani ran the newsroom with “unbridled aggression,” making a tradition of concern amongst these round him, together with his superiors. ITN declined to touch upon historic allegations about Frediani.

These interviewed by Deadline alleged that he would undermine colleagues in editorial conferences by muttering and swearing beneath his breath, taking assignments away from journalists he didn’t fee, and brazenly smirking or rolling his eyes at story strategies that didn’t meet his requirements. “It might be a public humiliation train, proper in the course of the workplace,” mentioned one individual aware about the conferences. 

Others recalled him having stand-up rows, shouting, swearing, and jabbing his finger within the route of colleagues. “He was accustomed to stepping into your private area when speaking to you, leaning into you, maybe inches away out of your face, or touching you to make a degree,” a former colleague recalled.

Sources alleged that he routinely ignored or sidelined colleagues he thought of “persona non grata,” stripping them of accountability or freezing them out of fascinating tales. Sources mentioned this was as a result of Frediani didn’t personally fee the person or had beforehand clashed with them. “In isolation, it doesn’t sound massively vital … nevertheless it had such a poisonous impact on individuals,” mentioned one other former ITN insider. 

The allegations echoed these made by BBC insiders, who shared tales about his alleged aggression and lamented the “clubbable” ambiance he has created at Breakfast, during which favorites are rewarded and others are disregarded within the chilly. There’s a feeling that his conduct doesn’t accord with BBC values round equity and inclusivity. 

A number of of Frediani’s former ITN co-workers mentioned complaints have been made about his conduct, although it’s not clear how formal these grievances have been. One individual instructed Deadline that they made a criticism to a supervisor and HR about Frediani’s conduct, however have been instructed to get used to his fashion.

Others mentioned they stopped in need of complaining as a result of they nervous it could not be handled severely by ITN or it may very well be damaging for his or her profession. “If I’d made a proper criticism, it could have fallen on deaf ears, and I’d have been slowly squeezed out,” mentioned one individual.

Frediani was a programme editor at ITV Information in Deborah Turness’ ultimate 12 months as general editor of the service earlier than she joined NBC Information. Jonathan Munro, now BBC Information’ world information director, additionally labored in a senior function at ITV Information throughout this time. “Turness is totally conscious of what he’s like,” mentioned one individual. One other supply, a seasoned journalist, claimed that “a blind eye” had been turned to Frediani’s alleged conduct. 

Turness’ place is that she doesn’t recall any criticism, formal or casual, about Frediani through the time they overlapped at ITN. Munro was additionally unaware of complaints and strongly denies {that a} “blind eye” was turned to any alleged misconduct. Frediani’s place is that he was unaware of any complaints about his conduct and nothing was raised with him. 

ITN is presently going through questions over its dealing with of historic complaints and use of non-disclosure agreements after an impartial report concluded final 12 months that staff had “low belief” in administration processes. Deadline can reveal that the corporate lately engaged Individuals Puzzles, an exterior HR consultancy, to enhance its individuals administration and complaints processes. Workers have lately been surveyed about their experiences.

An ITN spokesperson mentioned: “We’re dedicated to a tradition of openness and belief, which incorporates guaranteeing that any time a priority is raised, it’s addressed promptly, totally, and pretty.”

WHO IS RICHARD FREDIANI?

Described as one of the vital formidable British TV information editors of his era, Richard Frediani has risen from being a neighborhood radio reporter in his native metropolis of Preston to the BBC’s strongest information govt outdoors of London. 

Primarily based out of Salford, Frediani has known as the photographs on BBC Breakfast, the UK’s highest-rated morning present, since September 2019. He lately had his function expanded to incorporate the flagship Information at One. He’s mentioned to have an instinctive understanding of audiences outdoors of London, a much-prized talent on the BBC, which is commonly accused of being biased in direction of the capital.

Captain Tom Moore

Frediani is named a information obsessive. An ITN colleague recalled how he used to file the weekday information bulletins of his rivals and watch them again on the weekend whereas doing the household’s ironing. Fueled by a love of candy treats, Frediani is a near-constant presence within the workplace and asks his crew to pitch tales that make viewers late for work as a result of they’re so compelling to look at.

He has customary Breakfast right into a present that seeks to set the agenda with human curiosity tales, akin to propelling Captain Tom Moore into the nationwide consciousness by spotlighting his pandemic heroics. Colleagues have known as him a “campaigning” editor, who doubles down on points that ring a bell with audiences. Breakfast’s protection of the Publish Workplace scandal is proof of this and earned the present its first-ever BAFTA TV Awards nomination final month. Breakfast has received a Royal Tv Society award on Frediani’s watch.

Those that have labored with Frediani claimed his abilities and monitor file are the the reason why his superiors have been ready to miss conduct that allegedly upsets some colleagues. There’s additionally the view that he has constructed a novel empire in Salford and isn’t topic to identical managerial oversight as his London-based contemporaries.