New Jimmy Savile documentary shows disgraced star shutting down probing questions

Watch: Jimmy Savile dodges questions in new documentary

New Netflix documentary Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story shows the uncomfortable moments that the disgraced star hid in plain sight by dodging probing interview questions with jokes about his crimes.

The late TV presenter and fundraiser is the subject of a documentary which launched on the streaming service today that shows how he was able to continue abusing women and vulnerable people for decades while being lauded as a charity campaigner.

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It features archive footage that shows the many times Savile joked about references to his actions and avoided difficult questions using catchphrases and bluster.

One clip includes Savile talking to the book review show Read All About It after publishing his 1978 autobiography Love is an Uphill Thing.

Melvyn Bragg asks him: "Did you make up your mind you were going to be totally honest, were there things you weren't going to say?"

Savile answers: "The bits that I didn't say were only those which I forgot, which I've got enough for another book."

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Another presenter tells him: "By far to my mind the best part of the book is the anecdotes, which were very funny and I hope in the next one that you're going to tell a lot of anecdotes."

In a chilling joke, Savile replies: "I'd probably end up doing about 15 years in the nick if I did that."

The programme's presenter Jacky Gillott says: "Yes, I enjoyed the anecdotes, but I did feel that I still didn't really know you at the end of the book."

Savile jokes: "What are you doing after the show?", but Gillott, looking uncomfortable, presses him: "Come on, don't sidestep. I felt as though you described a person who we, the public, know. Is there a private core you really don't want us to know about?"

He replies: "No, not at all. Not at all. I have no ego trip that I keep things secret from anybody. I don't think for instance that people are really bothered about me personally."

The episode then ends with Gillott looking frustrated at the lack of answers.

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Other old interviews show Savile regularly making the joke that he has enjoyed visits to various locations for work and then ends "and my trial is coming up on Thursday".

Lynn Barber, who was the first journalist to print an interview with Savile addressing rumours that he "liked young girls", tells how when she asked him the question he explained it away by saying that his presenting work brought him into contact with teenagers but that they were interested in musicians on Top of the Pops and not him.

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story is currently streaming on Netflix.

Watch: Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story trailer