Exclusive: A BBC presenter appears to have called her employer "the devil" in a coronavirus-denial WhatsApp group

An account, which appears to be that of Points West weather presenter Jemma Cooper, is part of the WhatsApp network for Stand Up Bristol.

Stand Up Bristol is the group which organised a much-maligned lockdown protest at Bristol’s College Green

Ms Cooper, a veteran news and weather journalist, appears to be one of the 218 members of the WhatsApp group

Last month, a Stand Up Bristol member sent a message addressing the account: “Are you the weather girl Jemma?”

The account replied: “Yes alas I work for the devil at the moment. I joined the corporation in 1999 when I was 28 and fully asleep. Comatose."

Another message from the account reads: “Got a good network of people building in North Somerset at the moment. Especially Portishead and Nailsea. We are growing!”

A spokesman for the BBC said it does not comment on individuals, but added: “Impartiality is the cornerstone of the BBC so we have clear guidelines and any breach is taken extremely seriously.”

Ms Cooper has not been on air for three months but remains an employee.

She joined the BBC in the North in 1999, before moving to BBC Bristol the following year, according to her profile on the BBC website

She worked in live TV news for Points West, before becoming a weather presenter for the programme.

Ms Cooper has been approached for comment but the BBC spokesman said she would not be able to provide one as she is a current employee of the broadcaster

Full story here https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bbc-presenter-appears-call-employer-4730902