Kaye Adams Pulled Off BBC Radio Amid Bullying Probe

Kaye Adams, a familiar voice on BBC Radio Scotland and a staple of ITV’s Loose Women, has been taken off air amid an internal investigation into allegations of workplace bullying. The 62-year-old broadcaster, who commands a £155,000 annual salary for her radio work, has not been heard on her weekday morning show since October 6, 2025. While Adams has not permanently left the BBC, her abrupt absence has sent ripples through both the BBC and ITV, raising questions about the culture at the UK’s public broadcaster and the future of one of daytime television’s most recognizable personalities.

According to BBC News, the corporation has launched an investigation following a complaint about Adams’ behaviour. The specifics of the allegation remain undisclosed, with BBC Scotland refusing to comment on individual cases. A spokesman for Adams said, “No complaints had been presented to her by the BBC,” and emphasized that in her more than 15 years at BBC Radio Scotland, “she has never had any issue raised about her.” Despite the lack of formal communication, Adams was reportedly asked to attend a meeting with BBC Scotland’s new head of audio, Victoria Easton Riley, on October 8. Sources told The Daily Mail that the meeting “did not go well and Kaye stormed out. She hasn’t been back since and she’s not been on air.”

The allegations against Adams reportedly stem from complaints by junior colleagues who claim she “shouted and screamed” at them. The matter has become the talk of Pacific Quay, BBC Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow, with HR officials now interviewing staff as part of the inquiry. The investigation is being conducted under the BBC’s recently launched Call It Out initiative, a scheme designed to address bad behaviour in the workplace. The campaign was established earlier this year after a series of high-profile scandals rocked the broadcaster, including the sacking of MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace and co-host John Torode, and the criminal conviction of senior news anchor Huw Edwards for child abuse image offences in July 2024.

The Call It Out scheme was specifically created in response to an independent review that found a “small number of stars and managers behave unacceptably” and that BBC bosses often failed to tackle such conduct. Samir Shah, chairman of the BBC, spoke candidly about the need for change, stating, “After today, let me state it clearly, if you think you’re too big a star or too important to live by the values of this organisation, not only are you wrong, but we will find you out.”

Adams’ removal from the airwaves has prompted speculation about her future not just at the BBC, but also on ITV’s Loose Women, where she has been a regular panellist since the show’s inception in 1999. The Daily Mail noted that while her role on the ITV show appears secure for now, it could come under scrutiny if the investigation upholds the bullying allegations. The potential fallout is compounded by looming cuts to Loose Women itself: starting January 2026, the show will be reduced from five episodes a week to just 30 weeks a year, resulting in dozens of job losses. Additionally, ITV is scrapping the show’s live studio audience as a cost-saving measure, a move insiders have described as a “disaster” for the presenters, who rely on audience interaction to create atmosphere.

Despite the current turmoil, Adams’ career has spanned nearly four decades. Born in Falkirk, she began as a journalist and presenter, joining BBC Radio Scotland in 2010 to host the daily phone-in programme Call Kaye, which ran until 2015. She has since become a fixture on the station’s Mornings programme and continues to freelance for the BBC alongside her television commitments. In 2022, Adams participated in Strictly Come Dancing but was the first contestant eliminated. She also hosts an independently produced podcast, How To Be 60, and has been open about previously lying about her age, once knocking a full decade off before coming clean.

Her personal life, too, has attracted attention. Adams lives in Glasgow with her partner, tennis coach Ian Campbell, and their two daughters. She is active in charity work, supporting organizations such as the Beatson Cancer Charity, Kindred (which helps parents of children with complex needs), and Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire. Last year, she won a ten-year legal battle with HMRC over a £124,000 tax bill, with courts confirming her right to be classed as a freelance worker for her BBC Radio Scotland presenting from 2013 to 2017.

For now, Connie McLaughlin has stepped in to present Adams’ morning slot. The BBC has reiterated its commitment to robust internal processes, stating, “If any complaints or concerns are raised we have robust internal processes in place to manage these.” This stance comes as part of a wider effort to restore trust and accountability at the corporation after a string of damaging scandals. The sacking of Gregg Wallace earlier this year followed the upholding of 45 out of 83 misconduct allegations, including inappropriate sexual jokes, unwelcome physical contact, and culturally insensitive comments. Wallace apologized, saying he was “deeply sorry for any distress caused” and insisted he “never set out to harm or humiliate.”

Insiders say the BBC is now “getting much tougher on complaints about the talent and are starting to take these things seriously.” The Call It Out campaign is reportedly “everywhere now,” prompting staff to come forward about Adams and other high-profile figures. According to Metro, the BBC’s new approach follows years of criticism over its handling of workplace culture and the behaviour of its stars. In the wake of the Huw Edwards and Gregg Wallace scandals, the broadcaster has moved to demonstrate that no one is above the rules—no matter how long their tenure or how high their profile.

As the investigation into Adams’ conduct continues, the story has become emblematic of a wider reckoning in British broadcasting. The outcome could have far-reaching implications not only for Adams’ career but also for the culture of accountability at the BBC and beyond. In the meantime, her absence is being felt by listeners and viewers alike, as the industry waits to see what the inquiry will reveal and how both the BBC and ITV will respond.

Whatever the findings, the saga underscores the shifting expectations for public figures and institutions in the post-#MeToo era—where transparency, accountability, and respect in the workplace are no longer negotiable, but essential standards for all.