Both though somewhat weird figures themselves and not mainstream. Savile had become a national treasure. Accusations from people like them, although true, were obviously not taken seriously. You can see why. They would have been accused of professional jealousy and of trying to damage a career so they could enhance theirs.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I think it’s well established that at lower levels in the BBC Savile’s behaviour was questioned but not fully recognised. In the culture of the day, and in the position he held, he was often given the benefit of the doubt. What the enquiries established was a lack of a method whereby staff could, with assured confidence, report concerns to senior management, who were unaware.

Professional jealousy comes in many flavours. Being the weirdest weirdo on TV wouldn’t be my goal, but John Lyndon might have thought differently.,

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Savile had senior Sith-Lord levels of protection...right from the top.
He could have run down Shepherds Bush high street, shooting people with a kalashnikov, and got away with it.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

Yes, alright let's say Johnny Rotten's dream in life was to present his own version of Jim'll Fix It. That doesn't alter the fact that he spoke in public about these rumours and was ignored. And thirty years later Savile was still commiting the same crimes.

I often think that when Savile is discussed that it's forgotten just how smart he was. He created a brand that was perfect for doing what he did almost in plain sight.

He fooled a lot of people.....You could say a whole country.

I'm a massive critic of the BBC but I'm not as harsh as some concerning them and Savile. Let's not forget that he hardly spent his career just working for the BBC.

Yes the culture was different....Generally I regard it as a far better culture than today's culture....but obviously not in this regard. The 'dirty old man' idea was laughed at and while in many instances it was banter in many others it wasn't and sexual abuse within families and workplaces was tolerated more than should have been the case. I think we all agree on that even if many of us regard the 'me too' reaction to male/female interactions as having gone too far in the opposite direction....probably why it's fallen out of the culture.

That said, like most here, having lived or grown up in that time I can grate at the impression sometimes given that peado behaviour was somehow publicly accepted. It's important that younger generations understand that was never the case. it wasn't like that at all.

Savile hid his behaviour and only a small cohort of people ever really knew. We know that he was loved by most of the nation and that was apparent when he died. Most of what is now accepted was just suspicion and put down to eccentric behaviour.

Once that documentary on Savile dropped and people's eyes started to open on what went on huge numbers of claims were made.

What actually went on that we know for certain. Why hasn't anyone been held to account? Surely if events can be proven and verified then accountability should be there....but as in so many cases we hear a lot of noise but actual action doesn't get taken....just a lot of sniping.

It can prove frustrating to get at any objective truth other than knowing he did terrible abuse of the vulnerable. Few seem to what to talk about it because so many seem complicit in heing fooled by him.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Those are indeed the facts, which nobody contests or, with the benefit of hindsight, defends. No doubt there are things happening today that in some years time will look to be indefensible. The important thing is not to rant over inevitable mistakes but whether the lessons available have been learned.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.