The names of two new high-profile celebrities are to be handed to police investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations, the Standard can reveal today.
The alleged victims of the two stars have come forward in the last 48 hours and are yet to talk to Scotland Yard detectives.
The well-known pair are among a handful of new names given to child protection expert Mark Williams-Thomas.
Among them are some who worked with the entertainer or were friends or associates of his, former detective Mr Williams-Thomas said.
He added that not all of them are accused of being offenders, but are all implicated in some way and would be “of interest” to the police.
Mr Williams-Thomas has worked as a mediator between victims and the Met since the Savile scandal broke.
He told the Standard: “I am aware of approximately ten people who are of interest to the police, are offenders or are accused of having knowledge about Savile’s offending. Some of these names have been forwarded on to police, but others are yet to be passed on. Among those yet to be handed to police are two well-known individuals.”
Mr Williams-Thomas, who presented the ITV documentary which first exposed Savile’s reign of child abuse, said he was working with people making allegations before going to police.
He said officers would be made aware of the two new celebrities implicated in the scandal within the next 12-24 hours. The development came as PR man Max Clifford said 15 pop, film and TV celebrities had contacted him in the last few weeks worried about their names being dragged into the affair.
He said: “These are stars from the 1960s and 1970s who are worried about their names being mentioned in connection with Savile. They may have met Savile on Top of the Pops for example and were introduced to people by him. They are saying they did nothing wrong but they are just being naturally cautious. They want to know if I hear their names are being dragged into it all.”
So far around 300 potential victims of Savile and others have been identified. Met detectives are expected to make arrests in the next few days. Former pop star Gary Glitter was held by police on Sunday morning and has since been let out on bail.
Comedian Freddie Starr has offered to talk to police, but strongly denied any wrongdoing. He appeared on Savile’s BBC Clunk Click show in 1974 alongside Karin Ward, who was then aged 14, and she claimed Starr groped her.
Last week it emerged that police blew seven chances to arrest Savile.
In 2007 Surrey police were investigating four sex attacks, including two at Duncroft approved school in Staines. Today the former headmistress of the school insisted she was never told about the investigation involving two of her pupils.
Scotland Yard admitted a victim contacted them in the 1980s, as did another woman in 2003. Jersey police also ditched an inquiry involving a boy.
