BBC apologises for airing Jimmy Savile appearance

Savile was seen during a 1971 performance from rock band The Mixtures

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The BBC has apologised for airing an excerpt from a 1971 edition of Top of the Pops in which disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile was briefly shown.

Shown on 13 September on BBC Two, the footage appeared to show Savile wagging a finger at a female audience member.

"Unfortunately this brief appearance was missed," said the BBC after seven viewers complained.

"It was removed from iPlayer as soon as we were made aware and replaced with a re-edited version."

The footage of Savile, who died in 2011, was seen around 2315 BST in an edition of Top of the Pops 2.

It is now known that the Jim'll Fix It host was a serial sex offender who abused hundreds of young people over six decades.

In a statement, the BBC said it had "reviewed references to Jimmy Savile across archive footage, including a number which were brought to our attention.

"Where the material is likely to cause offence to his victims it is removed.

"Although all programmes are reviewed before broadcast, unfortunately this brief appearance was missed.

"We apologise for any distress caused."