Mark Lawson takes a thinly veiled swipe at the BBC's 'baffling and contradictory management' two years after he was investigated over Radio 4 bullying claims

  • Mark Lawson took swipe at BBC's 'baffling and contradictory management'
  • Ex-Radio 4 presenter did so in author's note in new novel The Allegations
  • Lawson stepped down from his role two years ago amid claims of bullying
  • He said book is work of fiction but suggests he was influenced by the row

By Sam Tonkin For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Broadcaster Mark Lawson (pictured) has launched a thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC's 'baffling and contradictory management' two years after he stepped down from his role amid bullying claims

Broadcaster Mark Lawson (pictured) has launched a thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC's 'baffling and contradictory management' two years after he stepped down from his role amid bullying claims

Broadcaster Mark Lawson has launched a thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC's 'baffling and contradictory management' two years after he stepped down from his Radio 4 role amid bullying claims.

The former Front Row host, who announced that he was 'taking a break' for personal and medical reasons after an internal probe into the allegations, made the comments in an author's note in his new novel.

Lawson makes clear The Allegations, due to be published next month, is a work of fiction but suggests he was influenced by the way the BBC handled the bullying row.

It was triggered when 15 staff wrote to the deputy director of BBC Radio, Graham Ellis, to complain about bullying and favouritism within the radio arts unit. It led to Lawson stepping down as host of the Radio 4 programme Front Row.

According to Richard Brooks of the Sunday Times, in the author's note of his book Lawson writes: 'In regard to [one] plot-strand, it is also the case that - during a long, generally privileged and happy career - I suffered one devastating experience of institutional group-think, baffling and contradictory management, false accusation and surreally sub-legal process.

'As a result, I have personal knowledge of the damage to reputation, employability and health that can result from such an ordeal, and of its paradoxical outcome: silence or ostracism from some of those I had considered friends or close colleagues and - the poignant opposite - startling kindness and courageous support from others, including many from whom I had no reason to expect anything.'

Lawson's novel tells the story of two academics who have been accused of misconduct. One, Tim Pimm - an expert on American history - is dismissed by the University of Middle England for breaking its code of conduct on bullying, harassment and sarcasm.

The other, a history professor and colleague of Pimm named Ned Marriott, is accused of two counts of historic sex attacks and questioned by police.

The BBC has not made public its investigation into the claims of bullying. Lawson has never spoken specifically about it but friends say the probe led to him experiencing panic attacks and a mini-breakdown.

Author's note: Lawson makes clear The Allegations (pictured), due to be published next month, is a work of fiction but suggests he was influenced by the way the BBC handled the bullying row
Lawson

Author's note: Lawson (right) makes clear The Allegations (pictured left), due to be published next month, is a work of fiction but suggests he was influenced by the way the BBC handled the bullying row

During a two-decade long career in which he has had more than 3,000 guests on his show, Lawson was proud of what he called his sensitive questioning technique.

He was born in St Albans, where he attended a fee-paying Catholic school before studying English at university in London. 

Suggesting he may reveal all about his time at the BBC some time in the future, Lawson writes: 'If I had wanted to tell that story directly, I would have published a memoir; and may yet one day do so.' 

BBC

Most watched News videos