Paul Ross has been given extended leave by the BBC to sort himself out, following his confession yesterday that he had been engaged in a year-long affair with another man, and had become addicted to the drug mephedrone in that time.
Paul usually presents the BBC Radio London breakfast show with Penny Smith. He was not in his chair this morning, and a BBC spokesperson has confirmed that he will be taking further time off.
Paul Ross has been given extended leave by the BBC to address the problems that came to light yesterday
The spokesman said yesterday, "Paul has spoken about his personal problems at length. He will be taking some time off to deal with those issues and won't be on air on Monday.'
Paul revealed in yesterday's Sun on Sunday that he had been drawn into the affair after he and his wife of 12 years, Jackie, had been having a terrible time financially because an enormous tax bill had caught them unawares.
Paul, who has been married twice before and has five children, said, "The person I have been over the last 14 months isn’t someone I recognise. I have done things I didn’t even think it was possible for a human being to do."
His wife Jackie is standing by him, telling the newspaper, "I’m not wiping out a 14-year relationship for six months of madness, I’m not. Because I know he loves me.
"I know 90 per cent of Paul is a good man. He’s a good dad. I feel the sex was part of the mephedrone package, I don’t see it as a gay relationship, I see it as part of the drugs.
“I’m not letting that vile little gargoyle destroy what we’ve got.”
Paul Ross co-hosts the BBC Radio London breakfast show with Penny Smith, and is reported to be on a salary of around £80,000 from the Corporation.
He is also a regular face on the sofa of 'This Morning'. His brother Jonathan has been away from the BBC for six years following 'Sachsgate', but recently returned to Radio 2 to sit in for a few days for Steve Wright.
