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Report alleges that police ignored accusations against Jimmy Savile in 1960s

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:14:00 +0000

A new 61-page report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has concluded that police had reason to suspect the late television host Jimmy Savile of sexual abuse as early the 1960s, but ignored accusations against the star due to his status.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the report "also said officials mishandled evidence amid a 'cultural mistrust' of evidence from children, and victims at times were simply dismissed. It concluded that Savile, who died in Oct. 2011, could have been stopped as early as 1964."

"It is clear that because of Savile's celebrity status and the power, maybe people do look for that extra piece of evidence, behaving with an extra sense of caution, because of the power he wielded," HMIC's Drusilla Sharpling told BBC radio on Tuesday.

The British sex abuse bombshells keep pouring in

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:36:00 +0000

For 30 years, Michael Le Vell has played a part on Britain's enduring soap opera "Coronation Street." In real life, it turns out, he was living a kind of soap-operatic drama: On Friday, he was charged with an alarming number of sex offenses, including "raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child." Le Vell, whose real name is Michael Turner, will appear in court on February 27 to face charges stemming from an investigation of his activities — a total of nine years, between 2001 and 2010.

The father of two separated from his wife in 2011, shortly before he was arrested on suspicion of a sex offense involving a young girl. At the time, he "strenuously" denied the accusation, vowing to "do everything in my power to prove my innocence." The investigation was dropped three months later due to insufficient evidence, and Le Vell declared himself "completely exonerated."

Will justice finally be served for Jimmy Savile’s victims?

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:43:00 +0000

British entertainer Jimmy Savile was a singularly appalling monster. The world knows this now. But is that enough justice for his victims?

When the television and radio presenter died at age 84 in 2011, he was widely regarded as a beloved icon, a man with an OBE and a knighthood. But generations of men and women who'd crossed paths with him in their childhoods held a different image. Last fall, ITV aired the searing documentary "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile," a detailed investigation into years of predatory behavior – behavior that Savile's position as a children's entertainer gave him all but free rein to indulge in. And, along with the revelations of his victims, there was clear message that his actions were no secret.

"Exposure" told the tale of five women who claimed Savile had molested them when they were in their teens. The show unleashed a torrent of other victims who've come forward since. Police have put the number of accusers at 450, but the eventual one may rise closer to 600.

Kevin Clash can’t destroy Elmo

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:35:00 +0000

It's the most ignoble career flameout any "Sesame Street" star has ever had. In fact, amazingly, it's pretty much the only flameout in the beloved PBS series' four-decade history. On Tuesday, Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer of the furry red superstar known as Elmo, left the show.

Sesame Workshop released a statement saying:

Sesame Workshop’s mission is to harness the educational power of media to help all children the world over reach their highest potential. Kevin Clash has helped us achieve that mission for 28 years, and none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.

Must-see morning clip

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:44:00 +0000

Jon Stewart manages to make audiences laugh while relaying the tragic story of the Jimmy Savile investigation; though the BBC investigated Savile for sexually abusing hundreds of kids, they later scrapped the investigation and instead aired a tribute to the alleged sex offender.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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Two more step down amid BBC scandal

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:56:00 +0000

LONDON (AP) -- The BBC's news chief and her deputy have been temporarily replaced while the broadcaster deals with the fallout from coverage of a child abuse scandal that forced its director general to resign, the broadcaster said Monday.

Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of news and current affairs, and her deputy, Stephen Mitchell, have handed over their responsibilities to others for the time being "to address the lack of clarity around the editorial chain of command," the corporation said.

"Consideration is now being given to the extent to which individuals should be asked to account further for their actions and if appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken," the statement said.

The BBC, meanwhile, faced criticism for agreeing to a 450,000 pounds ($715,000) payoff - a year's salary - for George Entwistle, who resigned as director general on Saturday after a BBC news program bungled reports that powerful Britons sexually abused children.

Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman on Monday criticized the payoff for Entwistle, who led the BBC for just 54 days.

"Clearly, it is hard to justify a sizeable payoff of that sort," spokesman Steve Field told reporters, but added it was for the BBC to justify the decision.

BBC chief quits after saying TV report was wrong

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:19:00 +0000

LONDON (AP) — The BBC's top executive resigned Saturday night after the prestigious broadcaster's marquee news magazine wrongly implicated a British politician in a child sex-abuse scandal, deepening the crisis that exploded after it decided not to air similar allegations against one of its own stars who police now say was one of the nation's worst pedophiles.

In a brief statement outside BBC headquarters, George Entwistle said he decided to do the "honorable thing" and step down after just eight weeks in the job.

"The wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader," he said.

It was a rapid about-face for Entwistle, a 23-year BBC veteran who earlier Saturday had insisted he had no plans to resign despite growing questions about his leadership and the BBC's integrity in the wake of the scandals.

Lawmaker John Whittingdale, who chairs a parliamentary committee on the news media, said Entwistle had no choice but to go, as the BBC's management appears to have "lost their grip" on the publicly funded organization.

"I think that what has happened in the last few days has immensely weakened his authority and credibility," Whittingdale said. "It would have been very difficult for him to continue in those circumstances."

U.K. police arrest Gary Glitter in connection with Savile case

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 13:28:00 +0000

LONDON (AP) -- The sex abuse scandal surrounding the late BBC children's television host Jimmy Savile widened on Sunday as police arrested former glam rock star and convicted sex offender Gary Glitter in connection with the case, British media said.

Police would not directly identify the suspect arrested Sunday, but media including the BBC and Press Association reported he was the 68-year-old Glitter. The musician made it big with the crowd-pleasing hit "Rock & Roll (Part 2)," a mostly instrumental anthem that has been a staple at American sporting events thanks to its catchy "hey" chorus. But he fell into disgrace after being convicted on child abuse charges in Britain and Vietnam.

British police do not generally identify suspects under arrest by name until they are charged. When asked about Glitter, a spokesman said only that the force arrested a man in his 60s early Sunday morning in London on suspicion of sexual offenses in connection with the Savile probe. He remains in custody in a London police station, police said.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, is the first suspect to be arrested in the scandal. It was not immediately clear if Glitter and Savile knew each other.

Can the incoming New York Times CEO keep his job?

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:26:00 +0000

The sexual abuse scandal that's rocking the BBC has reached our shores in the person of Mark Thompson, the former BBC director general who was recently named CEO of the New York Times. Thompson managed the BBC when the broadcaster canceled a sexual abuse investigation focused on the late television host Sir Jimmy Savile.

Savile, who died last year, is alleged to have raped and sexually abused hundreds of girls and women during his lifetime. The Daily Beast reports:

Allegations of Savile’s misconduct long circulated among journalists, but in the months after his death "Newsnight," the BBC’s flagship current affairs program, vigorously investigated the charges, speaking to victims and documenting numerous allegations against the star. Last December, "Newsnight" abruptly canceled the segment, although it’s still unclear who pulled the plug, and why.

In a recent statement, Thompson maintained his innocence:

The BBC is still fumbling over Jimmy Savile

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:12:00 +0000

In the four weeks since the British network ITV aired its damning documentary "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile," the late entertainer's decades-long history of alleged sexual abuse of both girls and boys has utterly rewritten the once beloved entertainer's legacy — and become a very present-day scandal for the BBC.

An ever-increasing array of potential victims now mounts – U.K. police are now following 400 lines of inquiry involving over 200 children and teenagers — sometimes on BBC premises. And as the investigation grows, there are disturbing questions of how much Savile's longtime media home knew about his behavior, how little the venerable network may have done to protect the kids Savile preyed upon, and, significantly, how insensitive about his possible crimes it has been right up to the present day.

Top BBC editor steps aside during Savile probe

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:25:00 +0000

LONDON (AP) -- A top BBC editor stepped aside Monday while the broadcaster reviews a decision to pull the plug on a segment about sexual abuse allegations against a beloved U.K. children's television star.

The editor, Peter Rippon of the prominent "Newsnight" program, had not been forthcoming in his explanation about why the segment on Jimmy Savile did not run, the BBC said in a statement. The broadcaster said he is stepping down immediately while the matter is investigated.

The respected British broadcaster's decision has damaged its reputation and led to accusations it was covering up the crimes of one of its biggest stars, who died last year at the age of 84 after a long career in children's television.

Savile's actions are also being investigated by police and other agencies. Police say there may be more than 200 potential victims of the entertainer, the longtime host of "Top of the Pops" and "Jim'll Fix It," recognized for his garish track suits and platinum hair.

Rippon is the first BBC figure directly blamed for the broadcaster's failure to properly report on abuse claims.

The BBC says Rippon's explanation of his decision in a blog post earlier was "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects."

Sex abuse scandal rocks BBC

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Here is the BBC news: The UK’s leading broadcaster is in a state of turmoil after one of its legendary celebrities was exposed as a predatory sex offender, a revelation critics say undermines the public trust it needs to safeguard its future.

The alleged crimes of Jimmy Savile, a radio DJ and television personality who died last year, would be enough to prompt widespread outrage and revulsion under any circumstances. Police have described him as a “sexual predator” who may have raped or molested dozens of underage girls.

But Savile’s behavior is seen as especially scandalous because he was a prominent children’s entertainer whose status afforded him unsupervised access to a near-endless supply of potential victims. To make matters worse, it’s alleged senior figures at the BBC who were aware of his predilections chose to turn a blind eye.

The dark accounts of Savile’s assaults over four decades from the late 1950s have prompted claims of a wider culture of sexual harassment at the BBC after several female personalities recounted how their complaints about being molested were treated as a joke.