BBC announces inquiries after sex abuse allegations against longtime host Jimmy Savile

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FILE - This is a Dec. 17, 1986 file photo of British disc jockey and BBC TV presenter Jimmy Savile at Madame Tussauds museum in London. The BBC is struggling to contain a crisis sparked by allegations of serial sexual abuse against the late Jimmy Savile, a longtime children\'s television host. Dozens of women have come forward to say that Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84, sexually assaulted them when they were as young as 13. London\'s Metropolitan Police, which is leading a national investigation, says it has identified 40 potential victims. (AP Photo/John Redman)

LONDON – The BBC is struggling to contain a crisis sparked by allegations of serial sexual abuse against the late Jimmy Savile, a longtime children’s television host.

Dozens of women have come forward to say that Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84, sexually assaulted them when they were as young as 13. London’s Metropolitan Police says it has identified 40 potential victims.

The publicly funded broadcaster is facing questions about its failure to stop Savile’s predatory behaviour.

BBC Director-General George Entwistle said late Friday that the broadcaster would hold an inquiry into the “culture and practices of the BBC during the years Jimmy Savile worked here.”

He said the BBC would also investigate why a report on Savile by its “Newsnight” program was dropped at the last minute in December.

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