Alan Jones breaks silence over allegations he indecently assaulted young men: Radio legend's 2GB successor Ben Fordham and colleague of 30 years Ray Hadley responds to shocking claims live on air

Alan Jones has denied allegations0 he indecently assaulted or touched young men during his broadcasting career - and foreshadowed he will take legal action against those making the claims. 

Jones - who was one of Australia's most powerful and influential broadcasters as a radio host at 2UE and 2GB from 1985 to 2020 - has 'vehemently' denied the allegations, which were published by The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday morning. 

The report included allegations about Jones' behaviour toward a former 2GB employee, a waiter, an aspiring musician and a young businessman who has since died.

'The allegations against Alan Jones by Kate McClymont published today in the Nine newspapers are demonstrably false,' Jones' lawyer, Mark O'Brien said in a statement released on Thursday.

'In the short time available since publication we have obtained substantial factual information which contradicts and refutes the alleged pattern of conduct by Mr Jones.

'We have retained Senior Counsel and have instructions to immediately serve a Concerns Notice under Section 12A of the Defamation Act as the first step in the commencement of defamation proceedings. 

T'here will be no further comment by or on behalf of Mr Jones.'

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham - Jones' successor in the job - and fellow talkback titan Ray Hadley both made substantial comments about the claims on their shows on Thursday morning. 

Hadley told listeners his long-term working relationship with Jones was 'severed' after one of the 82-year-old's accusers, who uses the pseudonym Bradley Webster, confided with him during a private meeting.

'My relationship with Alan Jones goes back 30 years. It's been an unusual one. We've had many battles and some good times, but the day I spoke to Bradley our relationship was basically severed,' he told listeners on Thursday.

'I regard this man not as an attention seeker or someone who seeks notoriety - but rather directly the opposite,' he said.

'The behaviour he was alleging was unwanted sexual advances from a person in power, that person being his boss Alan Jones.'

Fordham said Jones was considered innocent until proven guilty. 

'This is not an easy topic for us to cover here at 2GB because there's serious allegations involving someone who called this place home for nearly 20 years,' he told listeners. 

'But as Alan knows better than anyone, we don't hide around here from tough topics.

'The allegations have come from multiple people including one who worked here for many years, but they have not been proven.

'They are denied by Alan Jones. You would have heard me say this many, many times on this program and I'll say it again - the accused is innocent until proven otherwise. 

'And we would underline that.'

One of Jones' accusers, a former 2GB employee, alleged Jones had 'wandering hands' when he drove the radio star home from 2GB's studio to his Circular Quay apartment. 

Another made claims about his behaviour at a restaurant. 

Other claims concerned a young businessman who has since died and a young Queenslander who claimed he sent Jones a photo of himself with his shirt off. 

A spokesman for Jones' lawyers, Mark O'Brien Legal, told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'Our client denies ever having indecently assaulted the persons referred to in your letter, and your suggestion that he has is scandalous, grossly offensive and seriously defamatory of him.'