Draft report says BBC’s culture allowed Jimmy Savile abuse

Jimmy Savile sexually abused victims as young as nine and raped and was caught carrying out his lechery at least while working for the BBC, based on a leaked draft of a report studying the paedophile’s misconduct in the corporation.

“These included the BBC Television Theatre (in connection with Jim’ll Fix It), at Television Centre (in particular in connection with Top of the Pops), at Broadcasting House or Egton House (where he worked in connection with BBC Radio 1), Lime Grove studios and various provincial studios, including Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow”.

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’.

“I have the clear impression that most people in the BBC held the talent in some awe and treated them deferentially; they appeared to have the ability to influence their careers and were themselves untouchable,”Smith says in one of the published extracts”.

The report is part of an official review by retired judge Janet Smith into Savile’s checkered tenure with the BBC.

And with the report going on to say that the culture of whistleblowing within the BBC has got worse, could another Savile strike again?

The inquiry was leaked online to website Exaro and also warns that it was possible another “predatory child abuser could be lurking undiscovered in the BBC even today”.

When an underage girl complained to staff that Savile assaulted her on the set of the hit TV show Top of the Pops, she was ejected from the building.

She said the document was “out of date” and had since undergone “significant changes” that meant the earlier draft “should not have been made public and can not be relied upon in any circumstances”.

BBC Director General Tony Hall said the BBC will act on the final report once it has been received.

Mr Hall said: “Firstly, my thoughts and all our thoughts are with the victims of Jimmy Savile and their families”.

A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster could not confirm the authenticity of the report “and we don’t believe Exaro has the full version”. Drafts of the report will have been seen by numerous parties involved in the review.

“The review will work with the BBC to arrange publication of its final report as quickly as possible to ensure that accurate and responsible reporting can take place”.

BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead said the review dealt with “very troubling issues” and the corporation was grateful to those who had come forward.