UK Culture Secretary Calls Emergency Meeting of TV Bosses

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has called an emergency meeting of television industry leaders for next week, after a run of scandals that have hit British TV in recent days. Deadline reported the meeting first, saying invitations reached major UK broadcasters on Wednesday and that it could take place as soon as Monday.

According to Deadline, BBC Director General Matt Brittin is among the industry bosses expected to attend. CIISA, an anonymous whistleblowing service that lets people report concerns without giving their name, has also been invited.

The meeting follows a series of cases. Russell Brand was sentenced earlier this week to 10 and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault. The week before, Channel 4 axed Married at First Sight UK after rape allegations. The Guardian and ITV News have published allegations of sexually exploitative activity against David Walliams. He denies them.

Nandy plans to tell industry leaders that if their response to these allegations is not strong enough, she may bring in legislation. That law could force broadcasters and production companies to pay for CIISA, Deadline reports.

CIISA has indicated that its running costs would be around £1.5 million in its first year. It expects the figure to rise to just over £2 million the following year.

For the people who work on these shows, the questions are practical. Who pays for a reporting service, how staff raise concerns, and what changes behind the cameras. Those answers will come out of the meeting, and no outcome has been reported yet.