The Dame Janet Smith review into sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile has identified 72 victims, including 8 who were raped by the late TV presenter.
The BBC report that staff there were aware of the complaints against Savile but did not tell senior staff because of a culture of fear that still exists.
BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead said that the BBC had ‘failed’ the victims.”It turned a blind eye, where it should have shone a light. And it did not protect those who put their trust in it.”
Dame Janet described Savile and fellow broadcaster Stuart Hall as serial sexual predators and said that the BBC missed several opportunities to curb their behaviour.
BBC DJ Tony Blackburn has been sacked by the corporation following evidence he gave to the enquiry about the abuse of a 15-year old girl directly contradicting the findings of the BBC. He says he was cleared over any wrongdoing but he has still been terminated.
The report found the youngest victim of Savile’s was eight years old and the majority of the assaults were in connection with his work on Top Of The Pops.
Dame Janet stated: ‘She said celebrities were “treated with kid gloves and were virtually untouchable”.
