I was groped at Radio 1 says ex-DJ

A former Radio 1 DJ has described how she was routinely groped by another presenter as she was broadcasting.

Liz Kershaw described the atmosphere at the station as "intimidating" and said that when she tried to complain she was asked if she was a lesbian.

Her comments came as the BBC promised to co-operate fully with an inquiry by the Metropolitan Police into claims that the late presenter Sir Jimmy Savile regularly abused young girls.

Ms Kershaw, who now works for Radio 6 Music, said that when she joined Radio 1 in 1987 - the year Sir Jimmy left - his behaviour was an "open secret" at the station.

"The rumours were there, the jokes were there. It was an open secret," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"Round Radio 1 everyone joked about Jimmy Savile and young girls. The main jokes were about his adventures on the Radio 1 Roadshow. It was massive then.

"It was rather like the X Factor going round the country then. Can you imagine the X Factor judges rounding up the contestants and asking for sexual favours after the show? I don't think so."

She said that it was typical of the culture at the station at that time.

"When I walked into Radio 1 it was a culture I have never encountered before. I have always said it was like walking into a rugby club locker room and it was very intimidating for a young woman," she said.

"There was one presenter who routinely groped me. I would be sitting in the studio with my headphones on, my back to the studio door, live on air, and couldn't hear a thing except what was in my headphones, and then I'd find these wandering hands up my jumper fondling my breasts," she said.