- BBC Director-General George Entwistle says they will cooperate with police
- In a statement the BBC said they were 'horrified' by the claims
- A 10-minute Newsnight film looking into allegations of child sex abuse by Savile was dropped last December
- Labour MP Paul Farrelly said the BBC had to look into the circumstances in which the Newsnight film was pulled
- One of Savile's victims recalls: 'That vile tongue, tasting of cigars, went right down my throat. He was a bad, bad man.'
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The BBC was last night forced into a humiliating U-turn as it finally announced a joint inquiry with police into claims that Sir Jimmy Savile abused under-age girls.
The about-face came on the eve of tonight’s devastating ITV programme which will allege that the star exploited his fame to rape and molest girls as young as 12.
In addition, a string of other women have come forward to say that they, too, were attacked by Savile as children.
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If the alleged actions of Sir Jimmy Savile
(left) lead to a police investigation the newly appointed
Director-General of the BBC, George Entwistle (right) has promised the
corporation will work with the police
It has also repeatedly said that a decision to shelve an investigation by BBC2’s flagship Newsnight was taken for ‘editorial’ reasons and did not form part of a cover-up.
But last night, as MPs demanded that recently appointed Director-General George Entwistle give evidence to a Parliamentary committee on the affair, the BBC said it would now be co-operating with police.
In a statement, the corporation said it was ‘horrified’ by the claims that ‘anything of this sort’ could have been carried out by one of its employees.
Paul Gambaccini (pictured second from right in
the middle row) celebrate the 1000th edition of Top of The Pops with the
station's DJs and Sir Jimmy Savile at the front
(File picture) Newsnight, which is presented by
Jeremy Paxman, carried out an investigation into the allegations against
Savile, but the item was spiked by BBC bosses
Mr Gambaccini said the world of showbiz had been
aware of the claims of abuse by the flamboyant celebrity for decades
before victims finally told their story this week
WHY DID BBC EXECUTIVES SPIKE THE NEWSNIGHT INVESTIGATION?
The
editor of Newsnight Peter Rippon has denied he was leant on by BBC
executives to drop an investigation into Savile. However, he admitted he
had discussed the expose with them.
In an article on the BBC’s website he said: ‘I was told in the strongest terms that I must be guided by editorial considerations only and that I must not let any wider considerations about the BBC affect my judgment.’
The Newsnight report was due to air in December last year just weeks before the corporation ran a number of tribute programmes to Savile.
Mr Rippon said: ‘BBC editors have a lot of power and responsibility and I have never…ever been told by one of my superiors not to do a story against my will.’
Sources say Mr Rippon discussed the Savile report with head of news Helen Boaden.
In an article on the BBC’s website he said: ‘I was told in the strongest terms that I must be guided by editorial considerations only and that I must not let any wider considerations about the BBC affect my judgment.’
The Newsnight report was due to air in December last year just weeks before the corporation ran a number of tribute programmes to Savile.
Mr Rippon said: ‘BBC editors have a lot of power and responsibility and I have never…ever been told by one of my superiors not to do a story against my will.’
Sources say Mr Rippon discussed the Savile report with head of news Helen Boaden.
Forces in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Sussex revealed they have been looking at similar claims and Scotland Yard is investigating a allegation of rape dating back to 1986.
More women came forward with claims that Savile had attacked them but a string of stars who worked with Savile displayed collective amnesia about his sordid life.
Savile died last October aged 84. Although it has since emerged he was questioned under caution by Surrey Police in 2007, he was never charged with any offence.
Tonight’s ITV documentary will tell the stories of six women who say Savile molested them.
But more are stepping forward with chilling stories of abuse suffered in Savile’s BBC dressing room, his Rolls-Royce, his caravan and at a girls’ school in Surrey he regularly visited.
Over the last few days, the BBC insisted it had searched old files and found ‘no record’ of any misconduct.
But a chorus of victims has claimed Savile groomed them by offering tickets to attend his hit shows such as Top of the Pops and his Radio One show.
The BBC said: 'It is absolutely untrue that the Newsnight investigation was dropped for anything other than editorial reasons.'
Paul Gambaccini (centre) said he's been waiting
for the allegations to come out for 30 years, but knew his former Radio 1
colleague played the media 'like a Stradivarius'
Revealing how Savile kept a lid on the sex abuse claims, Mr Gambaccini said: 'You just didn't mess with Jim.'
It is also removing all programmes featuring Savile from its schedules, including re-runs of Top of the Pops on BBC4.
Lord [Michael] Grade admitted to Channel 4 News he had heard rumours about Savile’s conduct when he was Controller of BBC1.
Asked why he had not acted, he said: ‘People would cast aspersions in a general conversation – no one said “I know someone who has been attacked by an artist” – you’d immediately take action.’
Jersey Police yesterday confirmed it had investigated an allegation Savile molested a girl at Haut de la Garenne during the 1970s, as part of its 2008 inquiry into the home known as the ‘House of Horrors’.
But there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to proceed. It suggests Savile was abusing children during his regular summer visits to the home.
Surrey Police interviewed Savile under caution in 2007 but prosecutors stopped the case because of a lack of evidence, while Sussex Police is examining claims a former beauty queen was assaulted.
Scotland Yard is examining an allegation Savile raped a 15-year-old doing work experience at the BBC in 1986.
West Yorkshire officers are believed to have investigated Savile’s activities in the 1970s aboard a boat on the Leeds canal.
John Whittingdale, Tory chairman of the culture committee, demanded answers from the BBC over why its Newsnight report was never aired.
He said Mr Entwistle was likely to be asked about the decision when he makes his first appearance as Director-General in front of the group of MPs.
JIMMY SAVILE'S NEPHEW VIVIAN, 69, HITS OUT AT SEX SLURS DOCUMENTARY AS 'THE DEAD CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES'
A
nephew who is the 'last of the Saviles' today hit out at the decision
to broadcast sex allegations against his uncle Sir Jimmy.
Vivian Savile, 69, described the 'malicious rumours' as wrecking Sir Jimmy's reputation after his death.
Nephew Vivian said: 'The dead cannot defend themselves, they would never have dreamed of saying this when he was alive and now Jimmy should be left to rest in peace
'I think it’s absolutely horrific that ITV are going to show this documentary. These are malicious rumours and I don’t think they should be broadcast.
'I don’t know why these girls would make such claims. Some people just want to be on TV or to make a bit money. I’m not saying they’re lying but why wait until he’s gone to come forward.'
An ITV documentary due to be screened tomorrow night claims that the veteran broadcaster abused ten women.
And the BBC was yesterday under fire for allegedly covering up allegations of sex abuse by the former Top of the Pops presenter.
But Vivian, who describes himself as 'the last of Saviles', said: 'Jimmy’s reputation is hugely important to me. We never had even an inkling of anything untoward involving him.
'There was never anything dark or sinister about Jimmy, he loved children, but he just wanted to entertain them, he would never abuse his position.
Vivian, of Pontypridd, South Wales, said: 'He was just like he was on TV it wasn’t an act. He enjoyed the attention of course but there was never any funny business.'
The BBC was facing calls last night to open an investigation into Sir Jimmy Savile’s alleged child abuse. Jimmy Savile was interviewed by detectives under caution in 2007 over claim of abuse at children’s home in 1970s
Philip Davies - a Tory MP on the culture, media and sport select committee - said: 'They should look at it and not be so complacent about what are such serious allegations. They should find out who was aware at what stage.'
Following the death of the Top Of The Pops presenter in October 2011, Newsnight contacted ten former pupils of Duncroft Approved School, near Staines, west London, who said they had been victims.
Programme chiefs decided the film could air only if it was established that police in Surrey had investigated the star. He was interviewed under caution in 2007 but - because no charges were laid - the film was scrapped.
Vivian Savile, 69, described the 'malicious rumours' as wrecking Sir Jimmy's reputation after his death.
Nephew Vivian said: 'The dead cannot defend themselves, they would never have dreamed of saying this when he was alive and now Jimmy should be left to rest in peace
'I think it’s absolutely horrific that ITV are going to show this documentary. These are malicious rumours and I don’t think they should be broadcast.
'I don’t know why these girls would make such claims. Some people just want to be on TV or to make a bit money. I’m not saying they’re lying but why wait until he’s gone to come forward.'
An ITV documentary due to be screened tomorrow night claims that the veteran broadcaster abused ten women.
And the BBC was yesterday under fire for allegedly covering up allegations of sex abuse by the former Top of the Pops presenter.
But Vivian, who describes himself as 'the last of Saviles', said: 'Jimmy’s reputation is hugely important to me. We never had even an inkling of anything untoward involving him.
'There was never anything dark or sinister about Jimmy, he loved children, but he just wanted to entertain them, he would never abuse his position.
Vivian, of Pontypridd, South Wales, said: 'He was just like he was on TV it wasn’t an act. He enjoyed the attention of course but there was never any funny business.'
The BBC was facing calls last night to open an investigation into Sir Jimmy Savile’s alleged child abuse. Jimmy Savile was interviewed by detectives under caution in 2007 over claim of abuse at children’s home in 1970s
Philip Davies - a Tory MP on the culture, media and sport select committee - said: 'They should look at it and not be so complacent about what are such serious allegations. They should find out who was aware at what stage.'
Following the death of the Top Of The Pops presenter in October 2011, Newsnight contacted ten former pupils of Duncroft Approved School, near Staines, west London, who said they had been victims.
Programme chiefs decided the film could air only if it was established that police in Surrey had investigated the star. He was interviewed under caution in 2007 but - because no charges were laid - the film was scrapped.
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