At last! BBC orders Savile inquiry: U-turn as pressure mounts on TV chiefs over claims of 30-year-old cover-up

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

For days, the BBC has insisted it has never received any complaints about the former Jim’ll Fix It and Top of the Pops star’s behaviour.
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

Mr Entwistle’s move came as Newsnight editor Peter Rippon insisted it was his decision to scrap the investigation – but revealed he had discussed the ‘contentious’ story with BBC executives.

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.

It also emerged that Savile was investigated by Jersey police for allegedly molesting a girl at the notorious Haut de la Garenne children’s home.
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'