Carol McGiffin says Kaye Adams is 'never a bully' amid BBC Scotland suspension
Carol McGiffin has defended her former Loose Women co-panellist Kaye Adams after the broadcaster was suspended from her BBC Radio Scotland show Mornings with Kaye Adams amid an investigation over bullying complaints from staff.
Carol McGiffin insists Kaye Adams is "never a bully".
In October, it was reported that Kaye, 62, was suspended from her BBC Radio Scotland show Mornings with Kaye Adams pending an investigation over bullying complaints from staff under the corporation's Call It Out scheme, such as she allegedly "shouted and screamed" at junior colleagues.
The presenter - who denies any incident happened - recently broke her silence, telling Mail on Sunday the three weeks off air were the "most distressing weeks of my professional life" and that BBC Scotland has "still not provided me with any details of the allegations which have been made against me".
However, Kaye - who has hosted her £155,000-a-year, three-hour phone-in show since 2010 - added that she had been "inundated with messages of support from people who I have dealt with both personally and professionally over the decades, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart".
And one of those people is her former Loose Women co-panellist Carol.
Writing in her column in the new issue of Best magazine, Carol, 65, said: "I've known Kaye Adams for around 25 years. I started working with her in 2000, and even when we weren't working together, we always stayed in contact. She is a friend and I know her very well.
"She is the epitome of professionalism and one of the best presenters I've ever worked with. So, imagine my shock to read that she has been suspended from her long-running morning radio show on BBC Scotland."
Carol revealed she has seen "pretty abominable" TV stars not be very nice to staff - but Kaye is "definitely not one of them".
Carol - who quit ITV's Loose Women in 2023 - said: "It's true, some TV 'stars' can be pretty abominable, I've seen plenty of them treat staff appallingly in my almost 40 years working in that business, but they're usually awful people to start with made worse by the networks who fed the egos and facilitated their behaviour by giving them more and more work.
"I wish I could name names, but I can tell you Kaye is definitely not one of them."
However, Carol pointed out Kaye's "fiercely intelligent" and "pedantic, persistent perfectionist" nature "can be tricky" at times.
Carol added: "Also, she doesn't like to be wrong, which she is sometimes, although she'd never admit it. I know this because she and I disagree and argue about everything - Donald Trump, Brexit, climate change, Russia v Ukraine - all of which I'm right about and she knows it!"
And the pair have never fallen out "despite major humdingers in both personal and professional time".
Carol added: "Not even when as anchor on Loose Women, if she was losing the argument in a debate (especially to me), she would always make sure she got the last word!
"Yes, she's annoying sometimes, but never a bully."
BBC Scotland refused to comment on the allegations, but confirmed that Kaye had not permanently left the organisation.
A spokesperson said: "We would not comment on any individual case.
"If any complaints or concerns are raised, we have robust internal processes in place to manage these."
