Stuart Hall charged with rape and assaults

Hall, who lives in Cheshire, was arrested yesterday morning after he attended an appointment at a police station.

The 83-year-old is charged with one count of rape allegedly committed in 1976 against a 22-year-old woman and 14

offences of indecent assault against ten girls aged between nine and 16, which allegedly took place between 1967 and 1986.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said: “Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, an 83-year-old man has this evening been charged with one offence of rape and 14 offences of indecent assault.

“Stuart Hall, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, was arrested this morning after

attending a police station in the county by appointment.

“He has been bailed to appear before magistrates in Preston on 7 February, 2013.”

Hall has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours list last year for services to broadcasting and charity.

He became well known for his work on the 1970s TV show It’s A Knockout and his eccentric and erudite football match

summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hall’s arrest followed recent revelations that the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile was a serial sex abuser.

Earlier this month, Hall pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s and 1980s. It was not clear if those cases were included in the latest charges.

When he was first charged last month, the BBC said that, in light of the “very serious nature” of the charges, Hall would not be working for the corporation while the police investigation was ongoing.