Indian-origin presenter back in BBC fold

Indian-origin presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli,who was suspended by BBC in July for allegedly "stepping over the mark" with a female colleague,has been hired by Radio 4.

Indian-origin presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli,who was suspended by BBC in July for allegedly 8220;stepping over the mark8221; with a female colleague,has been hired by Radio 4,the flagship channel of the public broadcasting service.

Kohli,40,was suspended for six months from the BBC8217;s 8216;The One Show8217;,but Radio 4 chose to employ him for a new five-part series titled 8216;Tea And Biscuits8217;,which is being aired every afternoon this week.

The show,which started on Monday,sees the Glasgow-born Sikh visit people and places where the British tradition of tea and biscuits is strong and his encounters include a blood donation centre,the setting up of an arranged marriage between an Indian bride and groom and a break in a lorry driver8217;s day.

A spokesman for Radio 4 said Kohli8217;s six month absence from The One Show did not affect his work across the rest of the BBC.

He said,8221;Hardeep has not been banned,he has taken a mutually agreed leave of absence from the One Show. This does not include his work for Radio 4.8221;

In July,Kohli said he had apologised 8220;unreservedly8221; for his behaviour and said,8221;Nobody has accused me of sexual harassment. I recognise I over stepped the mark and have apologised unreservedly8221;.

A BBC spokeswoman had said,8221;Producers of The One Show received a complaint regarding Hardeep8217;s behaviour towards a production colleague. She made no formal complaint and has acknowledged that One Show management took the issue extremely seriously.

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8220;He was reprimanded and immediately apologised. He agreed to take some time away from the show to reflect on his behaviour. This leave of absence has been agreed to be six months.8221;

Kohli,a divorced father of two children,worked as a roving reporter for the show,hosted by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.