Child Sexual Abuse Scandal Continues to Rock BBC

Gadd, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in 1999 and abusing two girls in 2006, is currently facing accusations that he abused a teenage girl while at the BBC studios. He was released from custody shortly after being questioned by London police.

Gadd was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse allegations surrounding Jimmy Savile, his show, and many of his guests during the 1970s and 1980s. Savile was one of Britain’s most famous television hosts known for his ostentatious outfits and his charity work. Throughout his career, he was plagued by accusations of behaving inappropriately with young girls. However, several police investigations into these activities were abandoned due to lack of evidence.

In early October, British television station ITV aired a documentary about Savile which prompted hundreds of responses from people claiming they were abused by the television host. Some described incidents of abuse that occurred in Savile’s dressing room at the BBC studios where Savile, Gadd, and other guests of the show allegedly molested teenage girls. In the weeks after the documentary aired, British police indicated they would be making more arrests in connection with the Savile investigation. BBC executives have claimed they were not aware of the details until after the ITV documentary aired.

The multiple failed investigations and seemingly complete ignorance of the BBC higher-ups have left members of the British public feeling skeptical. Although this case has thus far received minimal attention in the U.S., it has the potential of being an even greater scandal than the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State debacle.