‘BBC Breakfast’ Editor Was Rewarded With More Power After Facing Bullying & Misconduct Claims

EXCLUSIVE: The boss of the BBC’s flagship breakfast news show had his powers beefed up after facing allegations of bullying, favoritism, and shaking a female colleague, Deadline can reveal.

Richard Frediani is arguably the BBC’s most powerful news executive outside of London, leading BBC Breakfast to awards success and agenda-setting stories. But behind the show’s famous red sofa, and the welcoming faces of presenters like Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, there has been disquiet about his leadership. 

Deadline has spoken to nine BBC insiders about Frediani, with sources detailing at least two workplace misconduct complaints since he became the editor of Breakfast in September 2019, one of which was the subject of a formal grievance process last year. The BBC declined to comment on individual HR matters. Frediani did not respond to a request for comment. 

Frediani, who likes to be known by his school nickname “Fredi,” is described by insiders as a “bruiser” from a bygone era of newsroom culture. Sources alleged that they have felt shouted at when mistakes have been made on-air, while one person witnessed Frediani walk out of the production gallery and kick a wastebasket. Employees also expressed unease about a culture of favoritism.

Although his news credentials are praised by colleagues, those who spoke with Deadline said the former ITV News executive’s behavior does not always accord with BBC values around respect and fairness. One employee said Frediani is seen as “untouchable” and people are “scared to speak out” because of the power he has accumulated in Salford, the BBC’s headquarters in the north of England, where Breakfast is based.

Frediani “Shook” Female Colleague

In one incident, highlighted by multiple insiders as an example of his behavior crossing a professional boundary, Frediani allegedly physically shook a lower-ranking female editor during a newsroom exchange in February 2024. The incident was investigated by the BBC and the woman’s complaint was upheld. The female editor, whom Deadline has chosen not to name, did not respond when contacted for comment.

Soon after the matter was resolved, Frediani’s role was expanded last May when the BBC’s News at One was moved to Salford, giving him control of the bulletin in addition to editing Breakfast. The two shows are comfortably the highest-rated in their slots and give Frediani significant influence over the tone and agenda of BBC News’ output on BBC One. It is not known if Frediani was subject to disciplinary action after the grievance, but his increased power base raised questions internally about whether the BBC is taking strong enough action against those accused of inappropriate behavior. 

Giving evidence to UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee this week, BBC Director General Tim Davie said the corporation has “zero tolerance” for misconduct, even if an employee considers it to be a “marginal” complaint about wrongdoing. “Everyone is dispensable,” he told lawmakers about disciplinary processes. 

Despite the emphatic comments, Deadline can reveal that the BBC is failing to take disciplinary action against the majority of individuals when it upholds complaints of wrongdoing. Figures obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request show that the BBC has upheld 39 bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment cases over the past three years, but only 13 people have faced disciplinary action and one staffer was dismissed. It means punishment was only meted out in around a third of successful complaints. Of the 72 grievances upheld or partially upheld by the BBC over the past five years, only two employees have lost their jobs.

BBC management’s position is that all complaints are treated seriously, but disciplinary action varies depending on the circumstances of the case. There are a range of punishments the BBC can enforce, including written warnings, dismissal, and redeployment or demotion. BBC policies state that written warnings only have a 12-month shelf-life, but can remain on a person’s record for longer in exceptional circumstances.

Second Frediani Complaint

Deadline is aware of at least one other occasion when a BBC employee felt compelled to contact HR colleagues about Frediani. Sources said a former Breakfast staffer first raised concerns with managers and HR in 2020. This individual, whom Deadline is not naming, initially flagged allegations that Frediani was bullying a colleague. Following the complaint, the employee is said to have felt actively sidelined and belittled.

One person familiar with the matter alleged that Frediani shouted and swore at the staffer, treating them “significantly differently” from those he considered to be loyalists. In one particular incident, the source accused Frediani of “barging into” the production gallery and “banging his fist on a glass wall” as he reprimanded colleagues for an on-air error. The source said “nothing happened” when concerns were flagged. The unnamed former Breakfast staffer declined to comment.

The person’s concerns were raised after the Mail on Sunday reported on a “bullying culture” at Breakfast in May 2020. The newspaper wrote that there had been five complaints to managers and HR, which do not include those referenced by Deadline. Staff said they felt shouted at and that Frediani “gets very cross regularly.” The newspaper also reported that he had created a “boys club” of favorites. 

Insiders confirmed to Deadline that they have witnessed a “clubbable” atmosphere at Breakfast. Accusations ranged from Frediani failing to address certain colleagues when entering a room and excluding people from jokes, to more serious concerns about people being stripped of decision-making power. This is seen as being out of step with BBC values, which state that leaders should “build a team environment where we treat everyone fairly and equally.”

Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative MP who chairs the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, told Deadline that the allegations about Frediani are “deeply disappointing and frustrating,” and part of a “conveyor belt of unacceptable behaviour at the BBC.” On the FOI figures about upheld grievances, she added: “The lack of disciplinary action being taken gives a worrying impression that the corporation is failing to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.”

Sources said it was inconceivable that BBC News bosses were not aware of the complaints against Frediani before handing him increased power last year. Frediani reports to John McAndrew, director of news programmes and a key lieutenant of Deborah Turness, the former NBC News executive who serves as BBC News CEO. The BBC refused to answer questions about whether Turness, who sits on the BBC board, was aware of the concerns.

Although removed from day-to-day operations in London and somewhat out of the view of senior leaders, Frediani is a major presence on daily editorial calls. He has transformed Breakfast into an engine room of news, delivering scoops on Captain Tom Moore’s pandemic heroics and Manchester United player Marcus Rashford’s fight for free school meals, the latter of which won a Royal Television Society award. “He’s a workaholic and a very good journalist,” said one admirer.

Workplace Culture Review

Deadline’s revelations about Frediani come at a time when the BBC is facing scrutiny over workplace misconduct. In recent weeks, the corporation has published two reviews into the historical behavior of presenters Russell Brand and Tim Westwood, both of which revealed failings in BBC processes around complaints handling. Brand and Westwood deny wrongdoing.

During the Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing this week, BBC boss Davie pointed to improvements in recent years, but said that the corporation must get to a place where it can “flawlessly” say it does not accept power abuses in the workplace. During the same hearing, BBC Chair Samir Shah stressed: “There are powerful people behind the scenes … they don’t have a right to abuse. No one is untouchable. No one is bigger than the BBC.”

The BBC will consider further changes to complaints processes as part of a workplace culture review currently being conducted by management consultancy Change Associates. Multiple sources told Deadline that Frediani’s conduct has been raised in interviews with Change Associates representatives. The BBC is expected to publish the review in April. 

Dinenage, the lawmaker who chairs the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: “We heard warm words from chair Samir Shah this week that he wants the BBC to be taking the lead when it comes to setting behaviour standards in the media. The BBC’s response to the forthcoming independent review into workplace culture will be an opportunity to demonstrate what concrete actions he and the BBC will take to root out bad behaviour, be it behind or in front of the camera.”