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BBC Jimmy Savile

BBC rocked by ‘devastating’ findings of Jimmy Savile inquiry

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By John Glenday, Reporter

January 21, 2016 | 2 min read

A leaked draft of Dame Janet Smith’s long-awaited inquiry into the culture which allowed predatory child abuser Jimmy Savile to prosper makes grim reading for the BBC, with Smith accusing managers of operating a ‘deferential culture’ and feeling themselves to be ‘above the law’.

Jimmy Savile, BBC

The report, published by investigative news site Exaro, lays out for the first time the ‘sheer awareness’ of officials at the public service broadcaster and warns it is ‘possible’ that a child abuser could be operating undiscovered at the BBC even today.

One bright spot for the broadcaster is that it has been spared blame for failing to uncover Savile’s ‘sexual deviancy’ under its own steam but nevertheless outlines multiple rapes and indecent assaults – all of which can ‘in some way be associated with the BBC’.

Over 500 pages the report lays out countless assaults; including a 1969 incident when an underage girl was assaulted on the set of Top of the Pops only to be thrown out by a member of the floor staff when she complained.

A similar case in 1976 involving a 17-year old girl was dismissed as ‘Just Jimmy fooling about’.

Smith wrote that most of Savile’s of Savile’s rapes and sexual assaults took place within his flat and caravans but that incidents had been recorded in ‘virtually every one of the BBC premises in which he worked.’

The BBC has not yet commented on the reports until they have seen sight of the full report, saying: “We cannot confirm the authenticity or contents of the leaked report and we don’t believe Exaro has the full version.”

The final report is expected to be made public within the next six weeks.

BBC Jimmy Savile

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