Kaye Adams denies using misogynistic slur and says she is ‘heartbroken’ to leave BBC Scotland after being axed from her £155,000 a year radio show following misconduct probe

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Kaye Adams has responded to claims that she bullied colleagues, after being removed from her £155,000-a-year radio show on BBC Scotland following an investigation into her behavior.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this story closely. Recent reports detail a disciplinary investigation that found the presenter, age 63, responsible for three instances of misconduct. Apparently, things got heated on set, with accusations of swearing at a colleague, throwing a pen at someone, and unfairly criticizing an intern’s work. It’s a reminder that even public figures need to maintain professional conduct, and it’s sad to see these kinds of issues surface.

Kaye left the BBC last month after being suspended in October while the company investigated two bullying complaints. Those complaints were ultimately not proven.

On Thursday, Kaye used Instagram to strongly deny a claim that she used a highly offensive slur and yelled at an intern 14 years ago.

She acknowledged that untrue stories were spreading about why she left BBC Scotland.

I’ve mostly stayed quiet, but the constant attacks on my reputation have become too much to ignore, so I need to respond.

I strongly deny ever using that offensive and sexist word, even though it allegedly happened 14 years ago. I was shocked when I first learned about it over a decade ago, and I would never use such language.

‘As for ‘berating an intern’, this is simply untrue.

‘Regarding the allegation that I threw a pencil while alone in an empty studio, words fail me.

It’s devastating to see 15 years of commitment and effort at BBC Scotland come down to this.

I just want to sincerely thank my friends and colleagues – at all levels of the company – for their kind wishes and support.

The mother of two spent 15 years working at BBC Scotland before being suddenly suspended last October 7th.

Kaye originally hosted her own call-in radio show, called ‘Call Kaye’. Later, the show changed formats and was renamed ‘Mornings with…’, which she continued to present a few times each week.

Kaye continues to appear on ITV’s Loose Women as a panelist and presenter, and the show has stated it continues to support her.

Since her suspension, several of her colleagues have publicly expressed their support, including Denise Welch and Nadia Sawalha.

She co-hosts a weekly podcast called How To Be 60 with Karen MacKenzie, and has discussed the stress she experienced during the BBC’s investigation on the show.

I was really worried to hear her say just last month that she’d lost weight and didn’t have much of an appetite. It broke my heart. And before that, she shared with the Mail on Sunday how awful things had been, that her reputation had really suffered and she felt unfairly targeted. It’s just been a really difficult time for her, and as a fan, it’s been hard to watch.

Her friends worried that Victoria Easton-Riley, who became the head of BBC Scotland radio in May 2025, had unfairly targeted her, creating a situation they described as a ‘witch-hunt’.

In just six months, Victoria cancelled Good Morning Scotland, the station’s flagship program, and launched Radio Scotland Breakfast, now hosted by Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver.

Just a month later, the network announced it was cancelling four more late-night music shows and letting go of their hosts: Iain Anderson, Roddy Hart, Billy Sloan, and Natasha Raskin Sharp.

People familiar with the situation said the decision regarding Kaye followed a team meeting. The new manager observed something during the meeting that she considered problematic and then discussed her concerns with others about Kaye.

This followed the company’s recent launch of its ‘Call It Out’ campaign, which aimed to encourage employees to report any behavior they considered inappropriate.

The program was created after a review of the BBC’s work environment revealed that a few prominent individuals and managers were acting inappropriately, and leaders weren’t consistently addressing the issue.

This investigation began after Huw Edwards, a former news presenter, admitted to sharing images of child sexual abuse.

Gregg Wallace, the host of MasterChef, was fired after an investigation confirmed 45 complaints about his conduct, which included inappropriate touching and appearing inappropriately dressed.

Naga Munchetty, a host on BBC Breakfast, is being formally investigated following accusations of bullying. Despite the investigation, she continues to appear on the program.

As someone who’s spent years observing workplace dynamics, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial a healthy culture is. Recently, I was hearing from the BBC’s chairman, Samir Shah, and his message really resonated. He’s making it clear that no one – and I mean no one – is above the organization’s values. He said, and I completely agree, that if you think your status gives you a pass on treating colleagues with respect, you’re not only mistaken, but the BBC will address it. It’s a powerful stance, and frankly, one every company should take – creating a space where everyone feels safe and valued is paramount.

Kaye’s representatives and the BBC were approached for comment. 

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2026-03-13 01:21