Jim Davidson among two men arrested in Jimmy Savile sex abuse probe

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Comedian Jim Davidson “vigorously denies” allegations made against him by two women, his solicitor said.

The former Generation Game and Big Break host was questioned by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal over allegations dating back 25 years, his solicitor Henri Brandman said.

Scotland Yard said earlier that a 59-year-old man was held in west London at around noon yesterday after a 53-year-old man had been arrested in Hampshire, both on suspicion of sexual offences linked to Operation Yewtree.

They have since been released on bail until March, pending further inquiries.

Mr Davidson, 59, was said to have been arrested after he flew into Heathrow Airport to take part in the Celebrity Big Brother show which starts this week.

Uniformed police were at Mr Davidson’s home in Stockbridge, Hampshire, last night after a number of plain-clothed colleagues went in earlier and drew the curtains on the ground floor.

Mr Davidson had previously commented on his blog about the “Jimmy Savile witch hunt” saying that it was “going a bit silly now.”

“Everyone is now an expert. Just pick someone you don’t like and say it’s them. So I’ll be the first one to knock it on the head and belt up. How’s about that then?” he wrote.

Mr Davidson, a former BBC primetime favourite with shows like the Generation Game and Big Break, has also been roundly criticised for his abusive jokes about ethnic minorities and the gay community. His personal life has been equally turbulent with four divorces and a bankruptcy.

He was widely expected to appear in Celebrity Big Brother this week but Channel Five declined to confirm or deny if he would now be taking part.

Ten men have now been questioned as part of Operation Yewtree which followed allegations against the former BBC presenter who died in 2011 aged 84.

The inquiry has been separated into three strands. They are claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those unconnected to the former BBC star which included the two latest arrests. Police have said that the majority of those cases in the section it has labelled “others” are linked to showbusiness.

Former pop star Gary Glitter, the comedian Freddie Starr and the public relations man Max Clifford are among those that have been arrested during the inquiry. They have denied wrongdoing and nobody has been charged with any offence.

Last month police said a total of 31 allegations of rape had been made against Mr Savile, the former Top Of The Pops presenter and Radio One disc jockey.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against him, mainly alleging sexual abuse. Detectives have recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect.