Was BBC children's radio entertainer a paedophile?
There are yet more child sex abuse accusations for the BBC to deal with as the size and scope of the detailed investigation into the actions of popular presenter Jimmy Savile grows by the day. Now the broadcaster has now confirmed it'll be looking into allegations from veteran reporter, John Simpson, who's branded an unnamed children's radio presenter from the 1960s as a paedophile.
In one of his books, Simpson writes about an abuser called 'Uncle Dick' who seems to fits the profile of the late entertainer Derek McCulloch. McCulloch was a star from the 1930s through to the 1960s. Simpson claims that - when he uncovered allegations while researching the presenter's obituary - the BBC blocked the journalist's attempts to make the damning information public because McCulloch was 'much-loved'.
Pretty much a national treasure, McCulloch was the voice of Larry The Lamb on radio, which went on to become this successful TV show. As 'Uncle Mac', he presented the BBC Children's Favourites and Children's Hour programmes, and was awarded an OBE in 1964 for his broadcasting work. At the height of those shows fame, some four million children would hear him saying "Goodnight children, everywhere". The 'Uncle Dick' in Simpson's book is said to have interfered with youngsters he'd invited to the recording studios after they'd won a competition to meet him.
The BBC is still reeling from the maelstrom of allegations over another well-loved children's presenter and charity worker, Jimmy Savile. The organisation has confirmed that it'll now also investigate the accusations about Derek McCulloch as part of the existing Savile review.
Written and Presented byMarverine Cole