A new phone line has opened as part of an investigation into former BBC Radio 1xtra DJ Tim Westwood over allegations of sexual offences.
Anyone wishing to come forward about Westwood’s sexual conduct, and the BBC’s knowledge of it, can share their experiences anonymously and in confidence.
The telephone line will be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for four weeks on 08000 121 838. Alternatively people can email here.
Last year, a joint investigation by the Guardian and BBC News published allegations about a range of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour made by several women against Westwood, who worked at the BBC.
The 65-year-old has been interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan police in relation to five sexual offence allegations dating back more than 40 years.
He was first interviewed in March in relation to allegations of historical sexual offences, which were alleged to have happened in London between 1982 and 2016.
He was then questioned again last week under caution over the same alleged incidents.
A total of 18 women have detailed their stories to BBC News. Some women said they encountered Mr Westwood when they were under 18. One said that she was only 14 when Mr Westwood first had sex with her.
Tim Westwood has denied all allegations.
Here’s everything we know about him.
Who is Tim Westwood?
Westwood grew up around East Anglia, the son of Bill Westwood, who later became the Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, and attended a private school in Norwich, then a state secondary.
He started his career as a DJ in London and moved into radio and then television.
What was Tim Westwood’s role at the BBC?
Westwood started his radio career at Kiss FM, which he co-owned, and then moved on to mainstream radio station Capital FM from 1987.
He then moved to the BBC after a presenter shake-up in 1994 and was the first person to host a rap show on the station. He stayed at the BBC for nearly 20 years and became known as a leading hiphop DJ who fraternised with leading names in the business.
When was Tim Westwood shot?
In 1999, Westwood was shot by gunmen on a motorbike who pulled up alongside his Range Rover in Kennington, south London.
Previously speaking about the shooting in an interview, he said: “A bullet went through the back of my seat an inch from my spine.
“Another bullet went through my arm and missed the nerves, which would have left me paralysed.
“The guy in the back seat had his kneecap blown off. Am I not blessed? Thank God I’m alive and everyone survived.”
How old is Tim Westwood?
This has been a point of contention for a while and he has often been accused of lying about his age to make himself seem younger.
In 2000, at the age of 43, Westwood insisted to a Guardian journalist that he was just 27 years old.
When was Tim Westwood on Pimp My Ride?
Westwood fronted the UK version of MTV’s Pimp My Ride, the car makeover show, from 2005 to 2007. The show featured weird and wacky customised cars, with flashy colourful paint and the latest in gadgets.
