Rumours

Rather too many BBC alumni have been recounting Jimmy Savile stories over the past couple of days - I've heard first and second hand tales of uncomfortable and inappropriate conversations spanning 1974 to 1988. The various campervans, estate cars and motorhomes used by him on his forays to London and around the country speak less now of Yorkshire thrift; the BBC statement of "horror" at the allegations seeks to narrow the issue to BBC premises, which may or not be significant.

Was there a collective groupthink that didn't want to hear bad stuff ? Certainly, the smoke was there early - this from former Radio 1 press officer, Rodney Collins: "For the avoidance of doubt, in 1973 the Controller of Radio 1 asked me to check out rumours about Savile and young girls in connection with ' Savile's Travels' which toured the UK. I checked with four Fleet St newspapers who all said they had heard rumours but knew of nothing concrete so they didn't think any of their papers would print anything. This is what I reported back to the Controller. So, I would say in 1973, all we had was rumours......."

Was it just that things were different then, as Coleen Nolan says ?