Tony Livesey has decided not to return to his Radio 5 Live show following his involvement in a BBC investigation regarding David Sullivan. The BBC confirmed this decision in a letter to staff, stating that Livesey will be leaving the network after his 16-year tenure with 5 Live.

Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, announced, “Tony Livesey has chosen to step down from his presenting role on 5 Live. Tony has been an integral part of our team for 16 years, playing a significant role in our programming and coverage, including during major events such as the Olympics and Wimbledon.”

Livesey, who was previously the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers, had been hosting his own show on 5 Live since 2010. The decision for him to exit the show comes in the wake of a Panorama program investigating Sullivan and his alleged misconduct towards women during his ownership of the aforementioned newspapers.

Sullivan, denying the allegations against him, has resigned from his positions at West Ham United FC to focus on clearing his name. Livesey, on the other hand, has denied any involvement in the events described in the investigation and has expressed his gratitude to his colleagues at 5 Live for their support over the years.

The BBC has stated that Livesey requested to step back from his presenting role temporarily while they reviewed the matters raised in the program. However, a more permanent decision has now been made regarding his future at the network. The situation continues to evolve as both Livesey and Sullivan address the allegations brought against them.