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Jimmy Savile abuse report highlights 'serious failings' at the BBC - live updates Jimmy Savile report highlights BBC's failure to prevent abuse by TV star - live updates
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Radio station stands by Blackburn
Mark Sweney
Kent radio station Kmfm has said it is standing by Tony Blackburn, who hosts a weekly show, despite the BBC choosing to fire him, writes Mark Sweney. “Kmfm will be supporting Tony Blackburn fully and will be continuing his broadcast contract,” said a spokesman for the station. “His show will air as normal this Sunday between 4pm-7pm on our stations. He is a great asset, a fantastic broadcaster and someone we are proud to work with”.
Mark and Kevin Rawlinson have more on Blackburn ‘parting company’ with the BBC.
Related: BBC 'parted company' with Tony Blackburn over Savile inquiry evidence
1.05pm GMT
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Jamie Grierson
Esther Rantzen said she is doubtful that positive changes in the media industry will result from Smith report, writes Jamie Grierson.
Rantzen told the Guardian: “I am pessimistic. The most recent case of sexual harassment I know about was another broadcaster, an independent broadcaster, but again it was someone who was ‘Talent’, and therefore the young woman felt she couldn’t complain or ask for help.
“I think it happens when it’s a banker or a judge, we know this week abishop convicted of terrible offences. Gang leaders in Rotherham.“Power, we know corrupts, but it appears it also prevents those whoare vulnerable from speaking out.”
“There are very crucial lessons to be learned and maybe one of thelessons is for parents. Make sure young people don’t get dazzled bythe glitz of fame or fortune, to think the people they’ve admired fromafar are actual trustworthy.”Asked if the BBC’s promises will make a difference, Rantzen said:
“We’re all vulnerable to it. It’s in our DNA to admire iconic figuresbut we have to as parents make sure we protect our children, andorganisations that build up people to status of stars have to be awarethat safeguards must be put in place.
“It sounds like a dry set of policies but they’re practical and doprotect children and young people.”
12.58pm GMT
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Here are tables about the abuse by Stuart Hall during his time at the BBC.
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PA has more reaction from ChildLine founder Esther Rantzen.
“Celebrity has cast a spell over everyone” and that youngsters need to be told that “fame isn’t a guarantee of virtue”, it quotes her saying.
Rantzen added:
“It’s not new really, you have had demagogues, leaders, monarchs, all sorts of people who have been like magicians and I’m afraid that the media have done this to stars of reality shows, disc jockeys, all sorts of people.
“I don’t know quite how you protect people from it. I would suggest that when a child says his or her ambition is to be rich and famous, somebody somewhere needs to point out that sometimes there are feet of clay, and that fame isn’t a guarantee of virtue, goodness, (or) kindness.
“The tragedy that someone, somewhere appointed Jimmy Savile to present a programme (Jim’ll Fix It) in which he was supposed to be humane, good, kind, (and) generous to all the children that came near - that is a terrible irony and it must not be repeated.”
“I think there have been some good results, both of the revelations about Savile and this report, because I do think that survivors of abuse do feel more able to come forward, talk about what’s happened to them, recognise it was not their fault, and that their disclosures will be investigated.”
12.47pm GMT
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Here’s video of Tony Hall confirming that the BBC sacked Tony Blackburn.
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Esther Rantzen, the former BBC presenter and founder of Childline, said she took her own children to see Savile’s Jim’ll Fix It show despite knowing the rumours about her colleague.
“I took my own children to Jim’ll Fix It, I would never have put them at risk if I thought there was a serious danger there,” she told BBC News.
But Rantzen said he she heard rumours about Savile since she started working as a researcher at the BBC in early 1970s.
“But as Dame Janet said, there is a real difference between rumour and gossip and evidence,” Rantzen said. “The problem was that throughout my career at the BBC I never heard anyone disclosing that Jimmy had abused them.”
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Nature of Savile’s offencesNature of Savile’s offences
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Guardian Visuals have put together a series of graphics drawn from Smith’s report.Guardian Visuals have put together a series of graphics drawn from Smith’s report.
12.22pm GMT12.22pm GMT
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Here’s video of Tony Hall’s apology to the victims of Savile and Stuart Hall.Here’s video of Tony Hall’s apology to the victims of Savile and Stuart Hall.
12.21pm GMT12.21pm GMT
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Dux said the report made an “artificial distinction” between who knew about abuse and whether the BBC could have been held responsible.Dux said the report made an “artificial distinction” between who knew about abuse and whether the BBC could have been held responsible.
But she welcomed Tony Hall’s acknowledgement that the BBC could have known about the abuse. “There was such widespread knowledge that you only had to scratch the surface and Savile’s dastardly deeds would have been uncovered,” said Dux.But she welcomed Tony Hall’s acknowledgement that the BBC could have known about the abuse. “There was such widespread knowledge that you only had to scratch the surface and Savile’s dastardly deeds would have been uncovered,” said Dux.
She said there was much work to do to resolve the “culture of fear” at the BBC.She said there was much work to do to resolve the “culture of fear” at the BBC.
She added: “I think the BBC is taking its duties responsibly. The real concern is about the status of celebrity, and whether someone still feels able to accuse someone who is immensely famous is yet to be seen.”She added: “I think the BBC is taking its duties responsibly. The real concern is about the status of celebrity, and whether someone still feels able to accuse someone who is immensely famous is yet to be seen.”
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Liz Dux, who represents 168 victims of Savile and Hall, said all her clients care about is to ensure the abuse never happened again.Liz Dux, who represents 168 victims of Savile and Hall, said all her clients care about is to ensure the abuse never happened again.
Dux, from the firm Slater and Gordon, warned that celebrities still had “huge power” at the BBC.Dux, from the firm Slater and Gordon, warned that celebrities still had “huge power” at the BBC.
Speaking on BBC news Dux said the Smith’s report was “disappointing” because it didn’t reveal the “full picture” of abuse at the BBC.Speaking on BBC news Dux said the Smith’s report was “disappointing” because it didn’t reveal the “full picture” of abuse at the BBC.
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Hall: Blackburn's position 'untenable'Hall: Blackburn's position 'untenable'
Hall gave more details about why the BBC sacked Tony Blackburn.Hall gave more details about why the BBC sacked Tony Blackburn.
He said paragraphs in the report showed Blackburn was interviewed twice by Bill Cotton and Sir Brian Neill over complaints from the mother of Claire McAlpine who committed suicide after claiming she was abused.He said paragraphs in the report showed Blackburn was interviewed twice by Bill Cotton and Sir Brian Neill over complaints from the mother of Claire McAlpine who committed suicide after claiming she was abused.
But when interviewed by Dame Janet, Blackburn denied these interviewed had taken place, Hall said. “My view is that given the importance of this investigation and the weight of responsibility of everyone to work fully and frankly with Dame Janet’s review, I felt it was untenable for the BBC to continue its relationship [with Blackburn] because of that.”But when interviewed by Dame Janet, Blackburn denied these interviewed had taken place, Hall said. “My view is that given the importance of this investigation and the weight of responsibility of everyone to work fully and frankly with Dame Janet’s review, I felt it was untenable for the BBC to continue its relationship [with Blackburn] because of that.”
He wouldn’t be drawn on how much, if anything, the BBC had paid Blackburn in compensation.He wouldn’t be drawn on how much, if anything, the BBC had paid Blackburn in compensation.
Why Tony Blackburn was fired. Part of the Smith report pic.twitter.com/McJJryXaVDWhy Tony Blackburn was fired. Part of the Smith report pic.twitter.com/McJJryXaVD
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11.35am GMT11.35am GMT
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Hall: Blackburn sacked after falling short on standards of evidenceHall: Blackburn sacked after falling short on standards of evidence
Asked why the BBC has sacked Tony Blackburn, Hall confirms the BBC has “parted company” with the veteran DJ.Asked why the BBC has sacked Tony Blackburn, Hall confirms the BBC has “parted company” with the veteran DJ.
Defending the move, Hall said: “As Dame Janet has said, she has rejected his [Blackburn’s] evidence and she has explained very clearly why. I have to take that extremely seriously. My interpretation of that is that Tony Blackburn fell short of the standards of evidence that such an inquiry demanded. I’m making no accusations about events or behaviours that happened in the past ... but about what he was doing in front of this really crucial inquiry.”Defending the move, Hall said: “As Dame Janet has said, she has rejected his [Blackburn’s] evidence and she has explained very clearly why. I have to take that extremely seriously. My interpretation of that is that Tony Blackburn fell short of the standards of evidence that such an inquiry demanded. I’m making no accusations about events or behaviours that happened in the past ... but about what he was doing in front of this really crucial inquiry.”
Hall confirms that Tony Blackburn has "parted co" with the BBC after #damejanetsmith rejected evidenceHall confirms that Tony Blackburn has "parted co" with the BBC after #damejanetsmith rejected evidence
Hall adds that Blackburn last remaining BBC employee mentioned in the report and that he "fell short of standards" demanded by the inquiryHall adds that Blackburn last remaining BBC employee mentioned in the report and that he "fell short of standards" demanded by the inquiry
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at 11.40am GMTat 11.40am GMT
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Full text of Hall's responseFull text of Hall's response
The BBC has also published the full text of Hall’s response.The BBC has also published the full text of Hall’s response.
Addressing the survivors of the abuse by Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall he said:Addressing the survivors of the abuse by Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall he said:
A serial rapist and a predatory sexual abuser both hid in plain sight at the BBC for decades. It was a dark chapter in the history of the organisation, but a much darker one for all of you. The BBC failed you when it should have protected you. I am deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and every one of you.A serial rapist and a predatory sexual abuser both hid in plain sight at the BBC for decades. It was a dark chapter in the history of the organisation, but a much darker one for all of you. The BBC failed you when it should have protected you. I am deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and every one of you.
I also know that it cannot have been easy for you to come forward and confront the past like this. Many of you have done so for the first time. I admire your courage and am grateful for your honesty. Your voice has finally been heard but I also recognise it has been heard far, far too late.I also know that it cannot have been easy for you to come forward and confront the past like this. Many of you have done so for the first time. I admire your courage and am grateful for your honesty. Your voice has finally been heard but I also recognise it has been heard far, far too late.
So today we say sorry. We let you down and we know it.So today we say sorry. We let you down and we know it.
Hall’s statement ends:Hall’s statement ends:
I would like to say this to the survivors of Savile and Hall.I would like to say this to the survivors of Savile and Hall.
You have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward and telling us all what you went through. We are determined to honour your courage.You have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward and telling us all what you went through. We are determined to honour your courage.
We will learn the lessons from these terrible times. We will confront the issues head on. We will continue to address them in an open and honest way. And we will be there for you.We will learn the lessons from these terrible times. We will confront the issues head on. We will continue to address them in an open and honest way. And we will be there for you.
So over time the BBC can be a stronger and better organisation. And we can help bring some closure to this dark chapter.So over time the BBC can be a stronger and better organisation. And we can help bring some closure to this dark chapter.
That is the very least we owe to you.That is the very least we owe to you.
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Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC trust, is now reading through her statement.Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC trust, is now reading through her statement.
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The NSPCC will be involved in the BBC’s review of safeguarding procedures against child abuse, Hall says.The NSPCC will be involved in the BBC’s review of safeguarding procedures against child abuse, Hall says.
An independent audit is to be made of all BBC policies, rules and procedures, Hall says.An independent audit is to be made of all BBC policies, rules and procedures, Hall says.
"We have changed, we are changing but we need to do more," Hall says."We have changed, we are changing but we need to do more," Hall says.
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