The crisis-plagued BBC does not have a "toxic" workplace culture but needs to take quicker action when rogue staff step out of line.

A major workplace review has founf the taxpayer-funded corporation should be intervening earlier as well as being much clearer on the standards of behaviour expected from its high-profile staff.

The broadcaster - beset by a series of damaging scandals - has now promised to implement its "single biggest set of cultural changes" after an independent probe found shortcomings in how it tackles inappropriate behaviour.

An investigation was ordered by the BBC board in October after a series of controversies, most notably when £450,000-a-year newsreader Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to receiving child abuse images.

The findings, set to be made public imminently, will explicity spell out to all staff what is expected from them in an attempt to prevent the corporation brought into disrepute.

A BBC source said: "This report is a pivotal moment for the BBC. It's a strong report, following a huge amount of work. There are clear, practical recommendations for change that the BBC will embrace.

"All organisations face challenges and the BBC is no exception. Now is the opportunity to deliver real change."

Shamed former News at Ten anchor Edwards escaped jail despite paying up to £1,500 to a paedophile pal who sent him legal pornography pictures as well as 41 child sex images.

In July, he pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images. He was later handed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Edwards did not receive a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, meaning he is free to do what he wants with his mobile phone as there are no restrictions placed on its use.

It means the disgraced presenter is still allowed to text paedophile friend and fellow Welshman Alex Williams, 25, who sent him a catalogue of sex images.

Edwards admitted three charges of “making” indecent photographs after he was sent images by Williams over WhatsApp.

Of those received, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15, but one was aged between seven and nine.

Ex-Met Police commander Peter Bleksley called the sentence “shameful, pathetic and appalling”, adding: “It’s offensive to all right-minded people who believe children are to be protected.”

The BBC was further embarrassed when Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace stepped back from the programme after female contestants and colleagues accused him of making sexist and lewd comments on set, as well as harassing behaviour.

The BBC board was also forced to issue an apology for "missed opportunities" in tackling bullying and misogyny by the former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.

And earlier this month it was claimed the presenters of BBC Breakfast were barely speaking to their editor in a bullying row in its Salford studios.

The broadcaster, which has faced a barrage of critisism over the licence fee which now costs £174.50 a year, has already blown more than £1.3 million investigating the Edwards scandal with the final bill set to rise after the completion of the costly workplace culture review.