The Sun newspaper in the UK has named Australian entertainer Rolf Harris as the ’83-year household name from Perth living in Berkshire, UK’ as the man arrested in the Operation Yewtree clean-up.
Rolf Harris image by Ros O'Gorman
Operation Yewtree is the investigation started to uncover people involved in sex abuse over a 50-year period linked to TV star Jimmy Savile, who died before being arrested. Harris’ arrest however is not linked to Savile.
The Harris name first surfaced when the Australian star was taken in for questioning last November just days before turning 83. He was not charged and denies the allegations.
Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun newspaper in the UK yesterday went public with Harris’s name although bloggers had been naming him ever since the arrest. Scotland Yard has not named the person being questioned
Jimmy Savile is alleged to have preyed on over 450 victims aged between eight and 47 over a 50-year period.
Savile was the presenter of ‘Top Of The Pops’ in the 70s and 80s. He was one of the most famous faces on UK TV.
Harris was one of the first Australian’s to have an international hit song when his ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport’ went into the USA and UK chart in 1957. His string of hits included ‘Jake The Peg’ and ‘Two Little Boys’.
His TV shows were ‘Rolf’s Cartoon Club’ and ‘Animal Hospital’. For decades he was the face of the British Paints advertising campaign.
Harris will face court in London in May.
