Viewers say new documentary about sex offender Rolf Harris is 'disturbing'

The programme charts the fall of the Australian entertainer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 22:  Former television entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court on May 22, 2017 in London, England. Convicted sex offender, Mr Harris, is currently on trial on four counts of alleged indecent assault against three teenagers between 1971 and 1983.  (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
A new documentary about Rolf Harris charts his fall. (Getty Images)

Viewers have said a new documentary about disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris was "disturbing" and left their "skin crawling".

Entitled Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight, the two-part programme charts the fall of the Australian star, who was convicted of carrying out a series of indecent assaults on young girls.

It started on ITV on Thursday (18 May) and viewers were horrified.

Read more: What was Rolf Harris convicted of as new documentary airs

Some posted messages on Twitter saying it was a difficult watch, but also praised programme-makers for how the material was handled.

EMBARGOED PICTURE: FOR PUBLICATION FROM TUESDAY 9TH MAY 2023
From Optomen TV

ROLF HARRIS: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Streaming from Thursday May 18, 2023 On ITVX

Pictured: Archive picture Harris, Rolf, musician, drawer, 

Australian Entertain Channel 9. May 11, 1984. (Photo by Peter John Moxham/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).

This two-part documentary tells the extraordinary truth behind the rise and fall of former national treasure Rolf Harris using rare archive and exclusive testimony from those closest to the trial.

Harris was loved and trusted as 'the nation’s favourite uncle' but behind closed doors he had been betraying his family and the British public that had grown up with him by sexually assaulting children and young women for years.

Over a decade on from his arrest, Harris’ accusers including those who have waived their right to anonymity to tell the story of how they say his assaults impacted on them, and the pressures that finally forced them to come forward to testify against him in court.

With exclusive new testimony, the films tell the story of Harris’ decades-long grooming of his daughter Bindi’s childhood friend from the age of 13, and reveal the unseen evidence that led to his downfall.

With Harris now back at home, and new allegations of abuse surfacing in Australia, the series asks important questions about how the criminal justice system deals with historical cases of sexual abuse. Do his accusers feel that they’ve got justice?

(C) Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

For further information please contact Peter Gray
Mob 07831460662 /  peter.gray@itv.com

This photograph is (C) Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein.

Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged.

Any subsequent usage may incur a fee.

This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.

This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk.

Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Viewers were shocked by the programme. (ITV)

One person tweeted: “It is, of course, a disturbing documentary, but commendably sensitive with regards to its presentation of Harris' victims, some of whom are given voice in the programme.”

“Be warned,” said another viewer.

“That new Rolf Harris two-part doc on ITVX now is a very tough watch. But the brave testimony from so many of his victims is compelling throughout.”

“Watching now and it’s profoundly disturbing,” said someone else.

“New documentary on @ITVX about #rolfharris is just skin crawling,” posted one viewer.

EMBARGOED PICTURE: FOR PUBLICATION FROM TUESDAY 9TH MAY 2023
From Optomen TV

ROLF HARRIS: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Streaming from Thursday May 18, 2023 On ITVX

Pictured: Archive picture of Rolf Harris
Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

This two-part documentary tells the extraordinary truth behind the rise and fall of former national treasure Rolf Harris using rare archive and exclusive testimony from those closest to the trial.

Harris was loved and trusted as 'the nation’s favourite uncle' but behind closed doors he had been betraying his family and the British public that had grown up with him by sexually assaulting children and young women for years.

Over a decade on from his arrest, Harris’ accusers including those who have waived their right to anonymity to tell the story of how they say his assaults impacted on them, and the pressures that finally forced them to come forward to testify against him in court.

With exclusive new testimony, the films tell the story of Harris’ decades-long grooming of his daughter Bindi’s childhood friend from the age of 13, and reveal the unseen evidence that led to his downfall.

With Harris now back at home, and new allegations of abuse surfacing in Australia, the series asks important questions about how the criminal justice system deals with historical cases of sexual abuse. Do his accusers feel that they’ve got justice?

(C) Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

For further information please contact Peter Gray
Mob 07831460662 /  peter.gray@itv.com

This photograph is (C) Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned herein.

Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged.

Any subsequent usage may incur a fee.

This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk.

This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk.

Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Some people said the show was a tough watch. (ITV)

“Documentary about #rolfharris was really shocking,” said one viewer.

"Just shows that you can never go by how someone looks or the image they portray," they added.

Another tweeted: “I was devastated to find out what my childhood hero was but, now l just feel angry.”

Winner of the Fellowship award Rolf Harris at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday, May 27, 2012, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)
Rolf Harris used to be a household name. (Invision/AP)

Harris, who is now 93, was once a household name thanks to his music and TV shows such as Rolf's Cartoon Club.

Read more: Sex offender Rolf Harris ‘thrown out of primary school grounds after waving at pupils’

However, in 2014 he was found guilty on several counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.

Watch: Rolf Harris very unwell and suffering neck cancer