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Jimmy Savile abuse report highlights 'serious failings' at the BBC - live updates Jimmy Savile abuse report highlights 'serious failings' at the BBC - live updates
(35 minutes later)
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Nature of Savile’s offences
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Guardian Visuals have put together a series of graphics drawn from Smith’s report.
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Here’s video of Tony Hall’s apology to the victims of Savile and Stuart Hall.
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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.
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 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.
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.
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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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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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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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BBC accepts report 'in full'
Hall said the BBC accepts Smith’s report in full.
He pledged to continue to do more put in safeguards against abuse at the BBC. “Our duty is to be better,” Hall said.
Hall promises to review complaints and whistleblowing at the BBC. “We cannot be complacent”, Hall says after trotting through improvements in whistleblowing procedures.
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The BBC could have known about Savile’s abuse, Hall concedes.
It was an organisation that was too hierarchical. “This has been one of the most important inquiries in the BBC’s history,” Hall said.
We made Savile a VIP and what this terrible ep teaches us is that fame is power and must be held to a/c says Hall
Account of survivor who was told "keep your mouth shut, he's a VIP" particularly affected Hall. "It was we the BBC who did that."
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Tony Hall: 'deeply sorry'
The BBC’s director general Tony Hall says it is a “very sobering day”.
In his response to the report he said what happened at the BBC was “profoundly wrong”. Addressing the victims he said was “deeply sorry for the hurt caused to each and everyone of you.” Hall described abuse at the BBC as “dark chapter” in the BBC’s history.
He also thanked the victims for coming forward, and promised that lessoned would be learned.
Lord Hall now addressing reporters "it is a sobering day for the BBC". pic.twitter.com/3OLx4m2aog
Tony Hall says report "sobering" for BBC. Tells survivors events were "profoudnly wrong, shd never have started and shd have been stopped"
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Smith said the BBC handled a complaint against Tony Blackburn “very badly”.
Smith quizzed about a DJ in report called A7, now known to be Tony Blackburn. She said complaint against him was handled "very badly" by BBC
Blackburn was accused in 1971 of seducing a teenage girl who went on to kill herself. He strongly denied then and now.
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Peter Wanless, chief executive of the children’s charity the NSPCC, urged the BBC to review its whistleblowing procedures.
In a statement he said:
“This report demonstrates just how disturbingly easy at the time it was for Savile to get away, unchallenged, with despicable acts against children at the BBC. The impact on his victims has been profound - as we have already witnessed from calls to our helpline.
“It is tragic that a culture existed at the BBC in which Savile became too powerful to confront, so allowing him to use his celebrity status to abuse at will, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
“The BBC must ensure staff can easily raise concerns and that robust safeguarding procedures are in place to effectively act on these so that a scandal of this kind, never mind this magnitude, is never repeated.”
10.45am GMT
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Smith denies she was put under any pressure to alter the wording of her report from the earlier draft version. She said the wording was changed because she found better ways of making her points.
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Smith denies 'whitewash'
“It certainly isn’t a whitewash”, Smith says in response to the first question about her report.
She said that as a judge she needed evidence not rumours. She said she couldn’t draw the inference from rumours that management knew about abuse by Savile and Stuart Hall.
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Smith also condemned the leak of a draft version of report by Exaro news.
Exaro leak of draft report upset many Savile and Hall victims and was not in the public interest, Smith says.
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The report makes “sorry reading” for the BBC, Smith said. She said she had a meeting with BBC director general Tony Hall about her findings and was “satisfied” that Hall accepted her recommendations.
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Smith criticised Savile’s producer Ted Beston, Canon Colin Semper, a producer of Speakeasy, and Douglas Muggeridge, the controller of Radio 1 and Radio 2.
There were three individuals who could have done something about Savile - Ted Beston, Canon Colin Semper and Douglas Muggeridge.
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