BBC is trying to keep names out of sex allegations involving a top host, but time may be running out

The BBC, one of the world's most trusted news brands, has devoted much of its resources this week to covering the story of whether one of its top presenters was involved in the sexual exploitation of a child. 

Statements are conflicting. Accusations are uncorroborated. And reputations hang in the balance.

But the BBC has not answered the question foremost on the minds of many people consumed by the exhaustive coverage — precisely who is the eminent personality who now stands accused?

"Everyone in this building knows who it is," said BBC radio host Sarah Montague as she pressed BBC Director General Tim Davie on Tuesday to publicly reveal the name.

Davie, who is facing intense scrutiny for the broadcaster's initial response to a complaint from the then-teen's family, declined to do so, citing a difficult balance between "duty of care, privacy and public interest."

That hasn't stopped rampant speculation on social media — and even prompted several of the BBC's top on-air hosts to use their social media accounts to proclaim their innocence.

Radio 5 host Nicky Campbell told his listeners he had contacted police after being falsely accused on social media of being the perpetrator.

Very few facts of the complicated case are agreed upon.

On July 7, the Sun Newspaper published allegations that the unnamed BBC presenter paid a then 17-year-old up to £35,000 for sex images beginning in 2020.   

It's unclear, based on the limited information available, whether the young person had turned 18 when any images were taken.

The parents of the teen told the newspaper that their child then used the money to purchase hard drugs. The Sun also claimed the parents complained to the BBC in May of this year, but that no action was taken by the broadcaster.

Subsequent disclosures, however, have cast doubt on some of the allegations made in The Sun.

On Monday, the BBC quoted from a letter it said it received from the alleged victim's lawyer, claiming the sexual exploitation allegations are "rubbish" and that nothing inappropriate or unlawful took place.

The Sun has also come under fire for not including the alleged victim's side of the story when it published its original allegations over the weekend. The paper has subsequently said it stands by its story.