Tony Livesey steps back from 5 Live after allegations against David Sullivan

14 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Steven McIntosh BBC Tony Livesey presents a topical interview and phone-in programme on BBC Radio 5 Live BBC presenter Tony Livesey has stepped back from his 5 Live show following allegations against his former colleague David Sullivan. Several women have accused Sullivan, a billionaire businessman and West Ham co-owner, of abusing his power and preying on them for sex, in some cases when they were teenagers. Sullivan has strongly denied the allegations. Livesey previously worked as editor-in-chief of Sullivan's Sport newspapers and now presents a weeknight show on BBC Radio 5 Live. The BBC said Livesey had asked to take a break from presenting the show while the issues raised . The claims against Sullivan were made in a joint investigation . One alleged victim said that Livesey had arranged a meeting between her and Sullivan in 1999. Livesey said he had "no recollection" of introducing the young woman to Sullivan and that it was "not part" of his job to do so. He added that he had "great sympathy for a woman who may have become a victim", but rejected any suggestion that he had played "any role whatsoever in that scenario" and said he found the allegation "abhorrent". Livesey told the Times he had had "practically zero" contact with anyone appearing in the paper, such as female models. A BBC spokesman said: "The Panorama investigation included allegations about Tony Livesey which we take seriously. We also note Tony has firmly denied the allegations. "He has asked to step back from presenting his radio show for a short period and we will be considering the matters raised . We will not be commenting further at this stage." 'He said I could be one of his special friends': Ex-model tells BBC about meeting with David Sullivan Livesey's topical three-hour programme is broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live from Monday to Thursday, featuring interviews and phone calls from listeners. The presenter has worked for the BBC since 2006, the year he left the newspaper, and has appeared on 5 Live since 2010. The allegations against Sullivan from seven women span decades, starting in the 1980s. All come from women who were in their late teens or early twenties and were young models seeking work at Sullivan's Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. They accuse Sullivan of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, including pressuring them for sex during business meetings, where he offered to boost their careers if they slept with him or gave him oral sex.