BBC chief apologises to Savile’s alleged sex victims

BBC director general George Entwistle has apologised to victims of Jimmy Savile’s alleged sex abuse and said the corporation would hold its own inquiry following a police probe.

Mr Entwistle, who started in the role only last month, spoke of deep regret about the ordeals of the women involved in the “awful allegations”, and said there would be a “comprehensive examination” of what went on.

The late radio and television presenter has been accused by a growing number of women of sexual abuse over a number of years.

Mr Entwistle spoke out a day after British prime minister David Cameron called for the “shocking” allegations against Savile to be fully investigated.

Last week, the BBC said it would work with the police in examining the claims, and on Friday Mr Entwistle wrote to staff urging them to come forward with information.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 yesterday, he said: “These are awful allegations that have been made, and they are criminal allegations.

“When the police have finished everything they have to do, and when they give me an assurance that there is no danger of us in any way compromising or contaminating an investigation, I will take it further and ensure that any outstanding questions are answered properly.”

Child abuse officers have met BBC officials to discuss the allegations. Police are contacting all individuals who have made claims about Savile and should know how many victims there are some time this week.

A growing number of women have come forward to claim they were either abused — many of them under-age — or that they saw others who were victims.

Unease about the claims has led to a number of memorials to the star being removed. Yesterday it was announced an inscription on the wall at Leeds Civic Hall in recognition of his charity work will be taken down.

Mr Entwistle said any BBC probe would examine the “broad question of what was going [on] and whether anybody around Jimmy Savile knew what was going on”.

He said Savile was widely regarded as a “bit peculiar”, and that if anybody had been directly aware of the allegations they should have spoken up.

Former Radio 1 DJ Liz Kershaw told how when she joined the station in 1987 — the year Savile left — his behaviour was an “open secret” at the station.