Closed captioning of: British legend accused of abusing children
>>>
we begin this half-hour with a scandal in britain. for decades, jimmy savo was a huge star in
british television
. a year after he died, hundreds of people have come forward to claim he was also a
sexual predator
. it's causing a scandal for the
bbc
, one of britain's most respected news organization. more now from annabel roberts in london.
>> reporter:
for 20 years, the children's show was a highlight of saturday night family tv on the
bbc
. he was an eccentric, a
british institution
, a tease with royalty, a much loved part of the establishment. even blessed by the pope. but now
british police
say some 300 people have come forward claiming he was a pedophile who abused them during his 60-year broadcasting career. a
cub scout
who appeared on his show when he was 9 told the
bbc
how he was allegedly abused.
>>
he put his hand on my knee and started touching me, and then at the same time, he grabbed my hand and forced my hand on top of his trousers. i was absolutely petrified.
>> reporter:
when confronted six years ago, he denied being an abuser.
>>
i'm very boring. i don't do drugs. i don't do any of them things.
>> reporter:
he died last year at the age of 85 and was mourned as a
national treasure
. he had raised more than $60 million for charity, much of it for hospitals where he was allowed unsupervised visits. the victims claim he used this privilege to abuse them.
>> reporter:
some of the victims claim it took place on
bbc
premises. this woman claimed he put his hand up her skirt on a
live broadcast
in front of millions of viewers. last year,
bbc
journalists working on a report about the allegation were told unexpectedly by their bosses to stop. then a month later, a glowing tribute program about his life was broadcast, which has raised awkward questions for the
bbc
. the new chief executive of "the new york times"
mark thompson
ran the
bbc
at this time. there's no evidence he was involved, but he may be questioned.
>>
so if i can help in any way with those inchoquiries, i will do so.
>>
jimmy was knighted at
buckingham palace
, but as authorities investigate 300 allegations of aburabuse, his reputation has tumbled.
“ ”