Rolf Harris: The Sun reports he has been arrested on sex abuse offences. Credit:Getty Images When the front gate intercom was rung at the entertainer's house, a sleepy-voiced Mr Harris answered. Asked if he had any comment on The Sun’s story, he replied "no comment" and rung off. The only sign of activity at the house was Harris’ dog, who came to the gate to watch the gathering media. The Sun, the sister paper to the now defunct and discredited News of the World, reported that Harris was arrested on March 28, two days before his 83rd birthday, over alleged offences not linked to TV presenter Savile. Police have revealed that Savile, who died in 2011, abused hundreds of children and women over a 54-year period.

The Sun reports that Rolf Harris has been arrested for sex abuse. Credit:Screen grab, thesun.co.uk Police first raided Harris' Berkshire home on November 24 last year, but he was not at home, The Sun said. He was interviewed under caution on November 29 after attending a South London police premises by appointment. After The Sun published the story, the news was reported by Sky News Australia. Harris has performed several gigs and appeared on television since emerging as a suspect, The Sun reported. It is understood Harris vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Scotland Yard has not publicly named the Australian entertainer.

Fairfax Media understands that most of the London media were waiting on each other to name Harris, because of heightened legal fears after the phone hacking scandal which also looked at informal communications between police and newspapers. A well-connected media blogger, 'Guido Fawkes', said several newsrooms had confirmed the name after the first arrest last year. However, they were concerned that publishing the name could trigger a raid by police trying to identify 'leaks' within the Metropolitan Police. At the time of the arrest on March 28, a Scotland Yard spokesman said a pensioner from Berkshire, west of London, was one of 11 people arrested so far under Operation Yewtree, which is investigating people linked to Savile. The spokesman said there were three categories of people subject to the investigation: Savile himself, people close to the presenter and "others". The then 82-year-old was in the last category which "is generally people who were in the public spotlight at around that time", the spokesman said.

Police stressed that last month's arrest was not connected to the specific allegations made against Savile. The arrested man was bailed to a date in May, pending further inquiries. Harris, a veteran artist, musician and entertainer, has been a regular fixture on television screens since he signed with the BBC in 1953. His musical hits include Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, in which he played a wobble board instrument, Jake The Peg and Two Little Boys. Generations of Britons grew up watching Harris' work, which includes Rolf's Cartoon Club, Rolf on Art, and Animal Hospital. In 2005, he was commissioned by the BBC to paint a portrait of the Queen to celebrate her 80th birthday. The accompanying programme, The Queen by Rolf, was watched by an audience of nearly 7 million.

Savile was a hugely popular but eccentric figure, famed for his shock of white hair, tracksuits and chunky gold jewellery, but since his death his reputation has been destroyed by revelations that he abused hundreds of children and women. He preyed on 450 victims, aged between eight and 47, during his career. Almost a fifth of his victims were boys. British police said earlier this year in a report into his activities that Savile "groomed the nation" over six decades, hiding behind his fame to assault girls, boys and adult women on BBC premises and in schools and hospitals. Loading The public broadcaster made Savile one of its biggest stars in the 1970s and 1980s as presenter of BBC TV's Top of the Pops chart show and children's program Jim'll Fix It.

- with Nick Miller