'BBC's culture of reverence,fear towards celebs helped Savile'

Serious failings in the BBC's culture of "reverence and fear" towards celebrities had helped one of its most high-profile presenters Jimmy Savile sexually abuse his victims for decades at its premises, according to a major inquiry commissioned by the corporation released today.
The probe conducted by former judge Dame Janet Smith, however, gave a clean chit to the BBC in terms of any responsibility in Savile's sexual abuse of underage girls and boys between the 1960s and 80s, saying it found no evidence that bosses were aware of it or that of Stuart Hall, a former British radio and TV presenter.

The inquiry, commissioned by the publicly funded broadcaster at a cost of 6.5 million pounds into allegations of historic sexual abuse by celebrity presenters at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), found "serious failings" in the organisation's culture, said the 1,000-page report that runs into three volumes.
Smith, who was charged with conducting a two-year review after claims emerged of Savile's sexual abuse, has found a culture of "reverence and fear" towards celebrities at the BBC.
"It turned a blind eye, where it should have shone a light. And it did not protect those who put their trust in it," she said of Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, and Hall, the 86-year-old who was jailed in 2013 after admitting indecently assaulting 13 girls.

The report cites 72 Savile victims (57 female and 15 male), 34 of whom were aged under 16, all attacked in incidents "connected with his work at the BBC" in studios, dressing rooms, lifts and canteens.

It recorded six rapes of females and two of males, and 47 incidents of sexual assault.
Some 19 attacks were associated with the 'Top of the Pops' show and 17 with 'Jim'll Fix It'.
Other attacks were linked to 'Savile's Travels', 'Clunk Click' and the 'Radio 1 Roadshow'.
"The events and shortcomings I have described occurred many years ago. They occurred against a particular social background. Much has changed since then," her report said.

Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, apologised to the victims and said: "The BBC failed you when it should have protected you.
"A serial rapist and a predatory sexual abuser both hid in plain sight at the BBC for decades."
Meanwhile, the BBC said today it had "parted company" with another of its DJs, Tony Blackburn.
The Radio 2 DJ, who says he was cleared of any wrongdoing and was never interviewed over a claim he was among celebrities who abused a 15-year-old girl, is now planning to sue over what he feels is an unfair sacking.