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Savile blamed on ‘serious failings’ at BBC

An independent enquiry has found that “serious failings” at the BBC were to blame for ex-presenter Jimmy Savile’s sexual abuse of more than 70 women and children.

Savile: Carried out assault during last Top of the Pops

Savile: Carried out assault during last Top of the Pops

The enquiry, launched in 2012, was headed by Dame Janet Smith and explored the extent of the late Top of the Pops host’s activities between 1959 and 2006.

Smith focused on 72 of Savile’s victims, 57 of them women or girls and 15 boys, some aged as young as eight. The enquiry found that eight were raped by Savile while others endured sexual assaults.

Revelations about Savile’s paedophilia, which emerged only after his death, rocked the UK pubcaster and partly led to director general George Entwistle leaving his post after just 54 days in charge.

The enquiry, set up by the BBC, found that the last known incident involving Savile occurred in 2006 during the final episode of Top of the Pops and urged the BBC to revisit its attitude to talent and the standards expected of them.

The report said BBC staff were aware of complaints about Savile but that there was no evidence that either senior management or the BBC as a ‘corporate body’ knew of his behaviour.

Smith said an “atmosphere of fear” – which still exists – had allowed the abuse to continue unreported but said the report “presents an opportunity for the BBC to take steps to ensure that history cannot repeat itself.”

She added that her “overarching recommendation” was for the pubcaster to carry out another review of its current practices and said her report made “sorry reading” for the corporation.

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