Kaye Adams: ‘Wretched’ Five Weeks Amid BBC Bullying Row, Calls Claims Lies

Kaye Adams has said she has ‘the most wretched five weeks’ since she was accused of bullying a junior members of staff at BBC Scotland.

The TV and radio star, 62, who earns around £155,000 a year, was removed from her position following the allegations under the broadcaster’s Call It Out scheme.

Kaye revealed she has spent the past few weeks doing some ‘soul searching’ after struggling with the idea of ‘who she was painted as’.

The Loose Women panellist also said she has been struggling because she ‘can’t be as available’ to her daughters while struggling with her own issues.

Speaking about how she has bene doing on How To Be 60, the podcast she co-hosts with fellow Scot Karen MacKenzie, she said: ‘I was doing Loose Women last week on Friday, and then I was doing it on Monday.

‘And so Charlie, my eldest daughter, came down for the weekend, and so we had a nice…. I mean, do you know I’m not gonna say much but it’s been the most wretched five weeks, you know it really has. 

‘You know I’ve done a lot of soul searching. It’s been miserable, it’s been absolutely horrible. But I’m at a stage now that I think ‘do you know what, I know I’m not the person that I was painted as. I’m not perfect, never said I was, but I’m not the person I was painted as.’ 

‘And I thought ‘I cannot allow this to drag me down and rinse me of all joy, which it certainly has done. And I can’t allow it to do that to my family.’ 

‘I’m really close with the girls, and I’ve felt terrible because I haven’t been as available to them as I normally would be because I’m too wrapped up in my own bloody issues. And so yeah Charlie came down for the weekend and we just walked and walked and walked and walked.’

Kaye, who allegedly shouted and screamed at her colleagues, previously described the scandal as ‘the most distressing weeks of my professional life’.

She issued an update on how she was doing at the end of last month, explaining:’I have to warn you if you’re here for the laughs you might be disappointed because we have both had the s****iest weeks ever, albeit for very different reasons.’ 

Asked how she was feeling, she replied sarcastically: ‘Oh, I’m great!’

Kaye continued: ‘Errrrm, I mean obviously you know I can’t say anything about the situation, but having said that, I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to kid on nothing’s happening. 

‘I know that people will be aware of stuff that they’ve read which is… I can’t even describe it, it just feels like layers of my skin have been torn off to be honest. 

‘But you know I just have to go with it and hopefully there will be a sort of sensible resolution at the end of things. 

‘That’s all that you can really hope for in life. I certainly never saw this one coming. But you’ve just got to deal with it, haven’t you.’

Making light of the difficulties she and Karen are facing, Kaye jokingly added: ‘I mean, I was thinking at least I’ve done you the favour of cheering you up by all the pictures in the newspaper of me looking like a wreck in that godawful Parka.’

Kaye, who lives with her long-term partner Ian Campbell, continued: ‘I tell you what I’m finding hard is not sleeping cos I love my sleep and I’m not sleeping so well.

‘I tell you something – this is gallows humour – because I’m not getting up at 6am like I used to, it’s Ian’s alarm that goes off first. 

‘I don’t usually hear Ian’s alarm because I am up and out and away. Do you know what Ian’s alarm is? Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life!’

Kaye previously spoke to The Mail on Sunday about the bullying allegations, stating: ‘After three of the most distressing weeks of my professional life and seeing my previously untarnished name publicly dragged through the mud, BBC Scotland has still not provided me with any details of the allegations which have been made against me.’

The Strictly Come Dancing star added that she had been ‘inundated with messages of support from people who I have dealt with both personally and professionally over the decades and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.’

The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that BBC chiefs are quizzing staff about the presenter’s conduct ‘over a number of years’ as part of their ongoing probe.

Staff who currently work with Kaye at BBC Radio Scotland and those who have worked with her during her 15 years at the station in Glasgow are being questioned by officials at the state broadcaster.

The Mail on Sunday also revealed that the bullying investigation was launched by the BBC following concerns raised about an alleged ‘shouting incident’ during a debriefing session at the station attended by Kaye, BBC’s new Head of Radio Victoria Easton Riley and other members of staff.

Kaye denied any incident happened, but said: ‘I remember Ms Easton Riley standing at the back of a debrief meeting – in an open plan office – on one occasion, but there was certainly no shouting on my part. It’s not my style.’

The Mail on Sunday said it believed investigators are still gathering information about the star’s alleged conduct at the broadcaster, dating back a number of years, before the details are presented to her.

A senior BBC Scotland figure said: ‘Interviews have been taking place with those working on the show and those who have previously worked with her.

‘It’s not just about one incident; they are looking back over the years. A number of people have spoken about experiences they’ve had with Kaye but the investigation is still ongoing.’

A second BBC Scotland source said: ‘The atmosphere is strained at PQ [Pacific Quay – BBC Scotland’s headquarters].

‘The team working on the morning programme are keeping quiet about everything, just keeping their heads down and getting on with the job.

‘There’s a lot of confusion about what the BBC are actually doing and why Kaye hasn’t been told about what is being investigated.’

A BBC Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We would not comment on any individual case. If any complaints or concerns are raised, we have robust internal processes in place to manage these.’