BBC director-general George Entwistle has asked a senior colleague to answer journalists' questions on the dropping of a documentary about Jimmy Savile.
Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, will speak to Newsnight journalists about the aborted broadcast after several of them wrote to Mr Entwistle to ask why the film was not aired, a BBC spokesman confirmed last night.
The director-general asked Mr MacQuarrie as he was a "senior member of management" at the BBC, the spokesman added.
The BBC's reputation is increasingly under fire after an avalanche of allegations that the corporation was aware of claims about Savile's actions, but did nothing about them.
George Entwistle has asked a senior colleague to answer journalists' questions on the dropping of a documentary about Jimmy Savile
David Nicolson, who worked as a director on Jim'll Fix It, claimed to have caught Savile having sex with a girl in his dressing room, but was laughed away when he voiced his concerns, The Sun said.
Grant Shapps, chairman of the Conservative Party, told BBC1's Question Time last night that it "seems unimaginable" that people at the BBC were unaware of the child abuse allegations.
He said: "What happened now appears to be outrageous. It's particularly disturbing that a programme paying tribute, a three-parter, went out just last Christmas after it was already known at senior levels within the BBC that something was wrong, enough to have had a serious Newsnight programme made about it and enough to raise serious concerns.
"I do think there are definitely questions that do need answering."
Mr Shapps backed calls for Savile to be stripped of his knighthood, saying "it can't be right" that he remains a Sir in name following the allegations.
He said: "I would be in favour of the Forfeiture Committee taking a close look at this because it can't be right that somebody apparently keeps the Sir in front of their name when this is the reality of their life."
Fresh claims of sexual abuse have been made against the late TV presenter, following allegations that he preyed on children during hospital visits.
A string of police forces have received complaints and referred them to Scotland Yard, which is leading the investigation.
Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and Tayside are the latest forces to say allegations have been made.
A woman told Greater Manchester Police of a sexual relationship she had with Savile from the age of 15, while a second said she was groped by him in Salford when she was under 16.
Another woman told Tayside Police she was targeted in the Liverpool area, an alleged victim told North Yorkshire Police she was preyed on by Savile in Scarborough in the 1980s, and two women complained to Lancashire Police about incidents when one was 14, in the 1960s, and the other 15, in the 1980s.
Claims have also emerged that Savile groped young patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, where he worked as a volunteer fundraiser, while one woman alleged that she saw him molest a brain-damaged hospital patient at Leeds General Hospital.
Nurses at Stoke Mandeville are understood to have dreaded Savile's visits because of his behaviour and would tell children to stay in bed and pretend to be asleep when he came round.
Caroline Moore claims she was assaulted by Savile at the age of 13 while being treated for spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville in 1971.
Mrs Moore, from Clarkston in East Renfrewshire, told BBC Radio Scotland: "I was outside a ward or a gym and he came out and just rammed his tongue down my throat.
"I told my family at the time. They didn't take it seriously because he was such a high-profile character."
June Thornton, a patient at Leeds General Infirmary in 1972, said she saw Savile abuse someone she thought was a brain-damaged girl.
Ms Thornton said that when she told a nurse about the abuse, she was ignored.
"I thought he was a visitor coming to see her. He started rubbing his hands down her arms and then, I don't know of a nice way to put it, but he molested her. He helped himself. She just sat there and couldn't do anything about it," she told ITV News.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Stoke Mandeville, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said they were helping police with their investigations.
Police believe Savile could have abused as many as 25 victims over a period of 40 years, and have so far formally recorded a number of criminal allegations including rape and indecent assault.
The raft of allegations against Savile has been branded a "cesspit" by BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten who pledged to hold an independent inquiry as swiftly as possible after the police investigation.
As more allegations emerged, Savile's headstone was removed from his grave in Scarborough because his family said they wanted to pay "respect to public opinion". The Savile Hall conference venue in his home city Leeds will also be renamed.
Conservative MP Rob Wilson, who has written to Stoke Mandeville Hospital calling for an immediate investigation into the Savile allegations, told the BBC Radio 4 PM programme: "This is fast becoming a scandal that is fast engulfing a much wider part of the public sector than I originally thought it would.
"We can now see evidence developing that not just the BBC is involved in this - we now have parts of the NHS, the Crown Prosecution Service and some are even suggesting the police have some questions to answer.
"This is becoming a very widescale issue."
It comes after a fourth unknown celebrity was identified by woman who claimed she was abused by him as a child, in light of the allegations about Savile.
Commander Peter Spindler, head of Specialist Crime Investigations at the Met police, said the abuse was on a "national scale" and that the allegations against Savile spanned four decades.
See pictures of fans queuing in the rain to catch a glimpse of Savile's coffin
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Sir Jimmy Savile's gold coffin lies in state in Leeds, where fans can pay their respects during a three-day funeral.
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Auction of Sir Jimmy Savile's memorabilia
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Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Sir Jimmy Savile Auction
A sale of the late Sir Jimmy Savile's possessions and mementoes has got under way with one of the late DJ's Highland suits going for £280. The tweed jacket and kilt was the first of 549 lots to go under the hammer in Sir Jimmy's home city of Leeds today. The auction, which is expected to take at least eight hours, will include gold suits, Cuban cigars and the broadcaster's beloved Rolls-Royce. The lots include thousands of items of memorabilia owned by Sir Jimmy, which are being sold to raise money for his charitable trust. His trademark tracksuits and jewellery, including a £12,000 gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, gold identity bracelet and rings, are all on offer along with the first ever chair from his Jim'll Fix It TV show. The sale kicked off at Savile Hall, at the Royal Armouries, with around 300 people packing the room and many more bidders taking part over the phone and via internet. Lot one - the Highland suit - was bought by a local man on the front row. As the auction continued, some items started to soar above their estimates. A Scottish shepherd's crook estimated to sell for between £30 and £60 went for £380. A tireless charity worker, Sir Jimmy is thought to have raised more than £40 million for good causes in his lifetime. He died just before his 85th birthday last year and requested his belongings be sold for charity after his death.
Some seem to be suggesting the BBC will try and keep a lid on this as it appeared to with the Muslim child abuse rings. I told them to reserve judgment until the full truth of the matter is known.
stanton35686: Some seem to be suggesting the BBC will try and
"Commander Peter Spindler, head of Specialist Crime Investigations."
I think this investigation needs more time before those conclusions are drawn. At the moment there's a lot of claims coming from unknown entities. I am disgusted with the nature of the crimes alleged but I think it's important to not jump the gun, and give those who seek fame and fortune - rather than justice - the opportunity they so seek.
stanton35686: "Commander Peter Spindler, head of Specialist Crime Investigations." I think
Obviously you are a 'Saville Fan', and really do you think there would be this much smoke with absolutely no fire? Although I do think that people should NOT get compensation for these claims as it does encourage false accusations. I think any monetry fines should go to one big pot to pay for counselling etc, afterall those abused by poor lowlives don't get millions in compensation, so why should you get more because you got abused by a 'celebrity', abuse is abuse whoever it is.
zefeena: Obviously you are a 'Saville Fan', and really do you
No I'm not a Saville fan at all.......but I'm not a fan of these that are are makin the most out of a dead man ....These are not kids anymore they are 40 or 50 year old that had so much time to come out whilst he was still alive..Show me police reports that they filed and were not attended to by the cops and then I'll believe you....
Luuke: No I'm not a Saville fan at all.......but I'm not
Back in the 50's and 60's girls and boys were sent to these institutions for petty crimes. " of my sisters then 13 and 14 years old were sent away for 3 years each to one of these places. Now you might think that they must have done something "Really Bad". Well they played truant from school. Not for years...Just the odd occasion. But that is how it was then. Perish the thought that someone like Mr Savile might have got hold of them.
cheesedoffmaur: Back in the 50's and 60's girls and boys were
120 claims dating move than 40 years ago.......Where were these people all this time when he was alive....or do they expect a dead man to defend himself ? or is it just to get money from his charities....I see scam scam scam all over the place.....The 12 year olds they talk about are now in their 40's n 50's......This ain't right......Shame on you moochers
Luuke: 120 claims dating move than 40 years ago.......Where were these
If no one listens people (especially children) go silent. Maybe its taken this long for someone to listen. Probably a reporter dug a little and found a lot. Once people find someone to listen to them they talk and with that sort of weight on your mind I guess when they start it just pours out.
zefeena: If no one listens people (especially children) go silent. Maybe
Seen as the other post was removed i'll reply here to your comment. I have no vested interest. I'm very pleased to say I was not abused by Mr Saville, or anyone else. I did, however, work for 15 years as a RMN, and with children and adolescents that have been abused. Not everyone is a scammer, sometimes people are just looking for answers. By the way I have been a 'member' for ages, I normally don't post here cos i'm too busy working, i don't have as much free time as you apparently do!
zefeena: Seen as the other post was removed i'll reply here
Who the hell decided to give him a set of keys for Broadmoor. I smell a rat! He even had a mobile home set up in the grounds. Now call me a cynic....But how many other "Charity" raisers do you know or heard of that would have been given a set of keys to a mental institution? Especially one where there were children. Who decided that he could visit an approved school for girls? Why would he want to visit naughty girls? "There"! You answered it yourself in your mind.
cheesedoffmaur: Who the hell decided to give him a set of
The reason this is coming out now is due to a change in society. Back in the 60's child abuse did not 'exist'. That is not to say children did not get abused, but much of it was considered acceptable - disciplining children with a belt for example. Fortunately today victims are treated (a little) better than they used to be. During the 60's a woman who claimed to have been raped would have been crusified by those around her, so they simply kept quiet. Even now, the most difficult emotion victims have to deal with his the shame that they feel. It is a good thing that this has come out as it may give a good shake up to this problem. Unfortunately far too much money will be spent on inquests and the like, which cannot change the past. This money would be better spent on education to procure higher moral standards within our society, but undoubtably nothing will be done to improve the future.
zefeena: The reason this is coming out now is due to
i dont see why in any moment of modern brtiain a woman whould be crucified by those around her, claiming she had been raped?? thats a self made victims surely
oneshot179: i dont see why in any moment of modern brtiain
I said that would happen back in the 60's. But don't kid yourself that people don't still victimize the victim. Full sympathy may be given to the poor soul dragged into the bushes on the way home from work, but any young woman who has been drinking or wearing 'provactive' clothing, or is willingly in the company of another when she says 'NO', will attract plenty of 'She was asking for it comments'. And if it goes to court the other sides lawyer WILL be even more brutal.
zefeena: I said that would happen back in the 60's. But
i agree a lot of women are raped because they made sex objects of themsevles and drink without care to their actions. but if it was totally un provoked rape it should never be silenced.
oneshot179: i agree a lot of women are raped because they
so those that were abused in the 60's woke up after this man dies ??? They waited for the 70"s , 80's 90's 2000 and suddenly 2012 was the right time ? what m0ronic logic is that ?
Luuke: so those that were abused in the 60's woke up
I suspect one victim repeated her story and someone listened (normally a reporter), the rest come forward when they realise they too will be listened to. Abuse was common in 'naughty childrens homes', sex is currency to those that have been so demoralised that they have no respect for themselves, many of the victims were probably 'willing', but the law states they are children until 16 and therefore they should be protected from people who will take advantage of the poor 'decisions' that they may make. Children have an excuse, grown men DO NOT.
zefeena: I suspect one victim repeated her story and someone listened
I am fedup and disgusted keep seeing his face when I open the newspapers and when I turn on my computer - his dead - shame all this didn't come out before his death - let the police do what they have to do and lets hear it all when its completed.
maggy3456: I am fedup and disgusted keep seeing his face when
I've been living in this country for 30 years and I've always found that bloke, that creature, a total freak. Why people haven't seen it before is beyond me. He was not an excentric, he was a CREEP! Parents, wake up (I know it's a bit late now). Celebrities are not always the safest people to trust your children with.
Lcathlaz: I've been living in this country for 30 years and
how the hell could nursing staff tell children to pretend to be asleep. if this is true they are partly to blame for the abuse .why why the hell did no one SPEAK OUT. then this could have been stopped.
Christine_Holt: how the hell could nursing staff tell children to pretend
You think one of them would have had the guts to say 'Keep your filthy hands to yourself or I'll chop them off'
They probably would have been sacked though, for insulting the great and powerful Jimmy Savile, just like the girl at the childrens home who screamed and cursed at him and was put in solitary confinement until she retracted her accusations...
Madatheart: You think one of them would have had the guts
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PA/The Huffington Post UK | Posted: 12/10/2012 06:37 Updated: 12/10/2012 07:22