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Tim Westwood

Hip-Hop's Open Secret

Duration: 30 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC ThreeLatest broadcast: on BBC One Wales HD

Available for 9 months

For 40 years, Tim Westwood dominated the UK black music scene. The DJ was an early adopter of hip-hop in the 1980s and presented BBC Radio 1’s Rap Show for 19 years, before moving to Capital Xtra in 2013. The self-styled ‘Big Dawg’ had everyone from Jay-Z to Nicki Minaj on his shows, and his stint presenting MTV’s Pimp My Ride made him a household name.

In April 2022, a joint investigation by the BBC and The Guardian revealed allegations of sexual misconduct made by seven women. The earliest alleged incident took place in 1992, the most recent in 2017. All of the women are black. The 64-year-old DJ strenuously denied the allegations.

After the broadcast, more women came forward. This documentary goes deeper into the DJ’s past, investigating incidents dating from 1990 to 2012, including serious sexual assault. Show less

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