Jimmy Savile abuse report finds culture of 'reverence and fear' towards celebrities at BBC 'still exists today'
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Your support makes all the difference.The latest on Dame Janet Smith's review into the BBC's 'serious failings' in Jimmy Savile case:
- Esther Rantzen says 'some good results' came of Savile revelations
- Review finds culture of 'reverence and fear' towards celebrities
- 'No evidence' BBC bosses knew about Jimmy Savile sex attacks
- Victim's lawyer calls report 'an expensive whitewash'
- Tony Blackburn 'sacked by BBC' ahead of Jimmy Savile report
- BBC Director General's statement in full
Dame Janet Smith's review found there was a culture of "reverence and fear" towards celebrities at the BBC, which "still exists today".
The report says girls who dared to complain about being sexually assaulted were regarded as "a nuisance". It concludes their claims were not properly dealt with.
It also found Jimmy Savile carried out sex attacks in "virtually every one of the BBC premises in which he worked" and would "would gratify himself sexually on BBC premises whenever the opportunities arose".
The long-awaited report cites 72 Savile victims, 57 female and 15 male.
Of those, 34 were aged under 16.
It recorded six rapes of females and two of males, and 47 incidents of sexual assault.
Lord Hall, director general of the BBC, apologised to the victims of Savile and Stuart Hall.
He said: "The BBC failed you when it should have protected you. I'm deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and every one of you."
Dame Janet Smith's review found there was a culture of "reverence and fear" towards celebrities at the BBC which "still exists today".
The report says girls who dared to complain about being sexually assaulted were regarded as 'a nuisance' and their claims were not properly dealt with.
The long-awaited report also found Jimmy Savile "would gratify himself sexually on BBC premises whenever the opportunities arose".
It found Savile carried out sex attacks in "virtually every one of the BBC premises in which he worked".
A lawyer representing Savile's victims has described the report as "an expensive whitewash". Liz Dux told The Independent BBC managers would only have had to "search at the very surface and a lot of Savile's offending would have been revealed.
She said: "All the Savile and [Stuart] Hall victims have ever wanted from this report is truth and accountability.
“Despite millions having been spent on the inquiry my clients will feel let down that the truth has still not been unearthed, and many will feel it is nothing more than an expensive whitewash.
“It is unfortunate that Dame Janet had no power to compel senior managers to give evidence, giving the impression that the whole picture of who knew what has not been revealed."
She added: "With 117 witnesses giving evidence of concerns and rumours, it’s implausible to suggest that this did not reach the upper echelons of the BBC."
Dame Janet Smith's report cites 72 Savile victims (57 female and 15 male), 34 of whom were aged under 16.
It recorded six rapes of females and two of males, and 47 incidents of sexual assault.
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