Janet Smith’s review: key extracts and Exaro story thread

Exaro’s stories on ex-judge’s leaked report and her inquiry into abuse at corporation

By David Hencke, Alex Varley-Winter and Mark Watts | 20 January 2016

Exaro today publishes key extracts from Dame Janet Smith’s report of her inquiry into Sir Jimmy Savile’s sexual abuse the BBC.

This page compiles all the extracts, which were also reproduced by Exaro today as relevant in four previous packages of pieces after the retired judge’s draft report on her Savile “review” was leaked to Exaro.

In this final package of pieces today, Exaro reports on how BBC bosses have known of Dame Janet Smith’s damning findings from her Savile inquiry for over a year.

“What about all the stories about the young girls?”
– Stan Appel, former TOTP producer, cited in Smith report

Click on the link below to download a PDF of Exaro’s extracts from Smith’s draft report.

29 October 2011: Former colleagues of Sir Jimmy Savile, one of the BBC’s biggest stars, are on the train back to London from his funeral in Leeds.

A former producer from Top of the Pops, Stan Appel, asks a question out loud.

“What about all the stories about the young girls?”

Jim Moir, one-time head of head of ‘variety’ and then ‘light entertainment’ at BBC Television, the executive responsible for Jim’ll Fix It, asked Appel: what did he mean?

“Well you know, you know, young girls,” said Appel.

Moir recalled the moment in his evidence to Smith’s inquiry.

Appel was “a man of delicate taste”, Moir told her. “We didn’t pursue the conversation much further. It was evident what he meant.”

More than five years later, Exaro reproduces more than 37,500 words of extracts from the leak of Smith’s entire draft report of her inquiry into the late star’s sexual abuse linked to the BBC.

The conversation still has a long way to go.

Below is a run-down of our coverage of the inquiry to date, what it finds, as well as Exaro’s previous disclosures about the Smith review, and the issue of “VIP paedophiles” as it relates to the BBC.

The articles are listed in reverse-chronological order.

BBC knew of Savile inquiry’s findings more than a year ago
Judge’s inquiry into Jimmy Savile avoids prejudicing police cases
Janet Smith’s review: key extracts and Exaro story thread

Margaret Thatcher urged knighthood for ‘lurid’ Jimmy Savile
Janet Smith’s review: chapter 4 on society’s lack of alarm

Top of the Pops exposed by Janet Smith’s inquiry into abuse
Inquiry slams BBC over response to suicide of TOTP girl, 15
TOTP photographer took ‘porny’ pictures of girls in audience
Jimmy Savile hid abuse on Top of the Pops in ‘plain sight’
Radio 1 chief failed to see risk posed by Jimmy Savile in 1973
Janet Smith’s review: chapters 9 and 11 on TOTP and Radio 1

BBC staff to Janet Smith: we heard of Jimmy Savile’s exploits
Many of Jimmy Savile’s sexual attacks linked directly to BBC
Jim’ll Fix It sailed on despite concerns with Sir Jimmy Savile
BBC chiefs oblivious to Jimmy Savile’s damning Sun stories
BBC stars blast Jimmy Savile in damning evidence to inquiry
Janet Smith’s review: chapters 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 on ‘who knew what’

Jimmy Savile: Janet Smith’s damning review leaked to Exaro
BBC staff feared reporting Jimmy Savile’s activities to bosses
Whistleblowing at BBC ‘worse’ than in Jimmy Savile’s time
Jimmy Savile inquiry reveals BBC’s ‘kid gloves’ for its stars
Another Jimmy Savile could lurk at BBC, warns inquiry report
Janet Smith’s review: chapters 1, 2, conclusions & afterword

Ex-flatmates support ‘Jane’ over rape claim against Leon Brittan

Jimmy Savile: BBC restricts Smith review’s terms of reference
BBC-commissioned study praises corporation on child protection

Smith review ‘already avoids prejudicing ongoing police cases’

Mark Watts on RT’s Sputnik: BBC’s attack on abuse survivors

Met investigates Panorama source over leak of CSA survivor’s ID

Analysis: why I turned down Panorama’s interview request