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Rolf Harris trial: Entertainer denies abusing girl on holiday Rolf Harris trial: Entertainer denies abusing girl on holiday
(35 minutes later)
TV entertainer and artist Rolf Harris has denied touching a teenage girl in a sexual way while on holiday in 1978, after he began giving evidence at his trial for alleged indecent assaults. TV entertainer Rolf Harris has denied abusing a friend of his daughter as he began giving evidence at his trial for alleged indecent assaults.
Mr Harris told the jury at Southwark Crown Court that he is a "touchy feely sort of person" but also denied claims he abused a friend of his daughter's. Mr Harris told the jury at Southwark Crown Court that he is a "touchy feely sort of person" but disputed the claims made by the woman.
The 84-year-old first told the court about his childhood in Australia. He said an allegation that he performed a sex act on her when she was a teenager was "ludicrous".
He denies 12 counts of indecent assault on girls between 1968 and 1986. The 84-year-old denies 12 indecent assaults between 1968 and 1986.
Asked about an allegation that he assaulted the girl, who was then aged 13, after she left the shower while on the holiday, Mr Harris said: "Nope, didn't happen." Asked about a claim he assaulted the girl after she left the shower while on holiday in 1978 when she was 13, Mr Harris said: "Nope, didn't happen."
He also denied allegations that he abused the girl after she had been swimming in the sea and later in the holiday, while she was lying in a bunk bed.He also denied allegations that he abused the girl after she had been swimming in the sea and later in the holiday, while she was lying in a bunk bed.
Mr Harris was asked about another allegation, that he took a cup of tea to the girl one morning while she was visiting the Harris family and then assaulted her.
Asked if it had happened, Mr Harris said "nope" and shook his head.
He told the jury how on another occasion, during another visit to, he had taken a cup of tea to the girl in the morning and she "kicked the duvet off the bed" revealing her bare legs.
Mr Harris said she became "flirtatious" with him.
"It was a very flattering feeling for this young lady to be showing an interest in me," he said.
Asked if on another occasion he performed a sex act on the girl, Mr Harris said: "No. Ludicrous really."
The alleged victim is the subject of seven of the 12 charges Mr Harris faces, including six alleged assaults when she was aged 16 or under.The alleged victim is the subject of seven of the 12 charges Mr Harris faces, including six alleged assaults when she was aged 16 or under.
Outlining his early life, Mr Harris said he had been a talented swimmer as a teenager and went to university but "didn't really understand it" and was asked to leave. At the start of his evidence, Mr Harris outlined his early life in Australia.
He said he had been a talented swimmer as a teenager and went to university but "didn't really understand it" and was asked to leave.
He said he then started teaching but became unwell after picking up an infection while swimming in a river and became "totally paralysed".He said he then started teaching but became unwell after picking up an infection while swimming in a river and became "totally paralysed".
It was while he was recovering from the illness in hospital that he decided to pursue a career in painting and moved to London to study in March 1952, arriving when he was 22.It was while he was recovering from the illness in hospital that he decided to pursue a career in painting and moved to London to study in March 1952, arriving when he was 22.
In courtIn court
Sarah Falkland, BBC NewsSarah Falkland, BBC News
The huge theatricality of Rolf Harris is dominating courtroom number two at Southwark Crown Court.The huge theatricality of Rolf Harris is dominating courtroom number two at Southwark Crown Court.
The veteran entertainer has only been on the witness stand for about an hour but already he has tried lightened the tone of his own trial, even bringing a smile to the lips of some of the jurors.The veteran entertainer has only been on the witness stand for about an hour but already he has tried lightened the tone of his own trial, even bringing a smile to the lips of some of the jurors.
The man the prosecution say groped a string of girls has been in the witness box to demonstrate how he invented his famous wobble board and slapped paint onto a canvas.The man the prosecution say groped a string of girls has been in the witness box to demonstrate how he invented his famous wobble board and slapped paint onto a canvas.
The 84-year-old entertainer, dressed in a pinstripe suit and purple tie, performed something of a dramatic monologue for the court - as he recalled what he remembered was a "disastrous" audition for the BBC back in the 1960s.The 84-year-old entertainer, dressed in a pinstripe suit and purple tie, performed something of a dramatic monologue for the court - as he recalled what he remembered was a "disastrous" audition for the BBC back in the 1960s.
He told the court that the producer auditioning him was dictating a letter to his secretary simultaneously - and mimicked his clipped upper class accent.He told the court that the producer auditioning him was dictating a letter to his secretary simultaneously - and mimicked his clipped upper class accent.
Wobble board soundsWobble board sounds
The entertainer said he got his break in television in 1953, despite an "appalling" audition.The entertainer said he got his break in television in 1953, despite an "appalling" audition.
Mr Harris was given a five minute slot on a programme called Jigsaw, the jury was told, before he was "signed up" by the BBC in 1954.Mr Harris was given a five minute slot on a programme called Jigsaw, the jury was told, before he was "signed up" by the BBC in 1954.
He was asked about his musical background, telling the jury he had invented the wobble board instrument in 1959 while coating a portrait painted on a piece of hardboard with turpentine.He was asked about his musical background, telling the jury he had invented the wobble board instrument in 1959 while coating a portrait painted on a piece of hardboard with turpentine.
Mr Harris also gave details of his musical recordings, singing a section of his song Jake the Peg to the jury and demonstrating the sounds made by a didgeridoo and wobble board.Mr Harris also gave details of his musical recordings, singing a section of his song Jake the Peg to the jury and demonstrating the sounds made by a didgeridoo and wobble board.
The jury heard how Mr Harris went on to be made an MBE, CBE and OBE and was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Queen in 2005.The jury heard how Mr Harris went on to be made an MBE, CBE and OBE and was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Queen in 2005.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC told the jury Mr Harris was "an immensely talented man" but used his reputation to carry out "brazen" sexual assaults, often when other people were present or nearby.Earlier in the trial, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC told the jury Mr Harris was "an immensely talented man" but used his reputation to carry out "brazen" sexual assaults, often when other people were present or nearby.
The prosecution claims Mr Harris, from Bray, Berkshire, was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character whose fame allowed him to target under-age girls.The prosecution claims Mr Harris, from Bray, Berkshire, was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character whose fame allowed him to target under-age girls.