Sir Jimmy Savile OBE died a year ago, aged 84, with his reputation intact as a major star, DJ, children's entertainer and indefatigable worker for charity, reportedly raising more than £40m during his lifetime. Now, six police forces, co-ordinated by the Metropolitan Police, are investigating the claims of more than 40 women that they were raped and sexually assaulted in their early teens by Savile when he was at the peak of his fame in the 60s and later, charges vehemently denied by some members of Sir Jimmy's family. Janet Street-Porter, Paul Gambaccini and Esther Rantzen, among other colleagues, have said that they had been aware of the rumours. Rantzen, founder of Childline, has said that Savile was "A-list", therefore "untouchable", and no "minor" who complained about a television icon would have been believed. "We all blocked our ears to the gossip," Rantzen said last week.

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