In the 1970s and 80s he was the anchor of the BBC's local news in the North West of England as well as the humorous host of popular entertainment show 'It's A Knockout' , but now Lancashire Police has delivered more news that will further shock his fans. Stuart Hall, who's 83 and who'd been recently working for the Beeb as a football commentator, has now been charged with rape. It comes just a month after an initial set of charges against him last month and a court appearance two weeks ago on 3 counts of indecent assault, all of which he denied. The allegations appeared in the light of revelations which arose about serial child sex abuser and BBC broadcaster, Jimmy Savile.

Lancashire Police confirmed that Hall was arrested yesterday morning after heading to a prearranged appointment at a police station in Cheshire where he lives. Lancashire Police say that the one charge of rape is alleged to have been committed in 1976 against a 22yr old woman. And in addition to this Mr Hall has also been charged with 14 counts of indecent assault involving ten girls aged between 9 and 16 between 1967 and 1986 and that they've administered these charges after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service. Stuart Hall's been released on bail for now and he has to go back to Magistrates court in Preston on February the 7<sup>th

<sup>Written and presented by Marverine Cole