Panorama to revisit the Savile scandal

THE BBC is to broadcast a Panorama special examining Newsnight’s decision to drop a probe into Sir Jimmy Savile’s sexual abuse of children.

The special programme is expected to be aired tomorrow but was still being made this weekend.

Questions have been raised about BBC handling of the Newsnight probe and the Savile scandal. Director general George Entwistle is due to appear before the Commons select committee for Culture, Media and Sport on Tuesday morning.

The BBC has already announced two inquiries: one into its culture and practices, led by Dame Janet Smith, and another led by former Sky News boss Nick Pollard probing why Newsnight dropped its Savile’s sex-abuse inquiry.

It is believed Panorama has an e-mail chain between Newsnight staff, including editor Peter Rippon and reporters Liz MacKean and Meirion Jones.

The correspondence is understood to show reporters were focusing on the entertainer’s abuse and not, as the BBC later said, Surrey police’s decision to drop its investigation into the former presenter.

Scotland Yard said the Savile child-abuse allegations are now the subject of a criminal investigation involving other living people.

Police have revealed they are assessing more than 400 lines of inquiry and have identified more than 200 potential victims.

The NSPCC has said it is possible the former Top of the Pops presenter was “one of the most prolific sex offenders” yet uncovered.

Inquiries are also taking place into Savile’s involvement with Stoke Mande­ville Hospital, Broadmoor and Leeds Infirmary.

Savile, an OBE and papal knight, died last October aged 84.