A PROMINENT Australian entertainer has been arrested by Scotland Yard detectives in London on suspicion of sexual offences.

The high-profile 82-year-old Australian man from Berkshire in south east England was interviewed for several hours by police before being released on bail about 11.30pm local time.



It is understood his lawyer was present.



The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the 11th suspect but the biggest star so far arrested by officers from Operation Yewtree set up last year to probe hundreds of claims of sexual assault and paedophilia against British entertainer Jimmy Savile.



Police yesterday confirmed the arrest was not directly linked to Savile, who died aged 84 in 2011, but one of two other Yewtree offshoots related to alleged sexual misconduct by other high profile stars.



A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the man had been bailed, pending further inquiries, to appear before police again in May.



“In a general sense I can say we are only likely to confirm something like that after it takes place,” he said, adding security of witnesses was paramount.



Legal sources have said the allegations included contemporary claims related to the 1980s and 1990s. Most of the claims being probed by Yewtree relate to the 1960s and 1970s.



The entertainer was first interviewed “under caution” by British police on November 29 following a search of his home, about an hour west of London. It is understood they have since been trying to identify potential victims.



The man’s London-based agent could not be contacted yesterday.



His manager and brother also refused to talk about the arrest.



Asked if he had anything to say on his younger brother's behalf, the man said: "No I haven't, thank you.''



Late last year a friend of the Australian married father said his mate was “almost suicidal” over his being interviewed by police for alleged sexual offences which he described as being a slur and based only on guilt by association since he knew Savile, who has since been branded one of Britain’s worst serial child sexual abusers with up to 450 victims as young as nine years old over a five decade period.



Others arrested by Yewtreee include former pop star Gary Glitter, high profile comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, PR guru to the stars Max Clifford, former It’s a Knock Out Star Stuart Hall and DJ Dave Lee Travis.



They have all denied any wrongdoing, except for Glitter, who has not made a statement.



Police this week told BBC producer Wilfrid De’ath he was no longer facing charges after a woman who initially claimed he groped her withdrew her complaint. He is the only suspect where the Crown Prosecution Service has made a decision on.



Yesterday the media in the UK which has followed the case of the Australian closely were also not naming the star but were camped outside his riverfront home seeking a comment.