DJ’s trial delays BBC Savile review report

It has been reported that the Dame Janet Smith review is expected to uncover hundreds of victims and reveal a culture of ignorance which “protected” Savile.

A parallel review, being carried out into Stuart Hall’s behaviour while at the corporation, is also being carried out following on from the scandal.

This is being chaired by former High Court judge Dame Linda Dobbs and will form part of the final report.

It was announced in January that publication of the report would be delayed until after Hall’s trial.

Now it has been revealed that it has been delayed again - this time because of concerns on how it might impact on the former DJ’s trial.

A statement on the review website has announced the latest delay. It said Dame Janet “takes the view that the possibility does exist that publication of her report may affect the fairness of the Dave Lee Travis trial”.

It said: “For that reason and in the interests of ensuring that the independence and fairness of the criminal process is maintained, Dame Janet has decided that her report should not be delivered until after the conclusion of the trial of Dave Lee Travis. The BBC is aware of and agrees with this decision.”

The statement said that a “more precise estimated delivery date” will be published online at a later date.

A BBC spokesman said: “We note the review’s statement and understand the reasons for it.

“We will await the delivery of the report later in the year.”