The report into Jimmy Savile and the BBC makes for very tough reading.

The abuse this man inflicted on his victims, many of them children, is horrific.

It is a truly hideous, hideous abuse of power.

Dame Janet Smith is the author of the report and she said at least 72 people were sexually abused by Savile.

He committed at least 8 rapes -- remember this was over decades and it's believed that many of his victims have never come forward, so these are the victims who did speak out -- and his youngest rape victim was 10.

His reign of abuse went on for 45 years.

How did he get away with it? He used his fame and celebrity -- his abuse didn't go undetected. The bbc had at least five opportunities to stop him -- but didn't.

Again, they co-towed to savile's fame and celebrity -- his power and influence outshone the needs of the children who would become his victims.

And yet of the witnesses and people that were spoken to -- and there were hundreds for this report -- they described Savile as sleazy, unpleasant, self-important and a self-obsessed loner. And still, he went unchecked.

In this report, the bbc is urged to look closely at its hierarchical structure and it's attitude to talent -- in other words, to its hosts -- and how hosts are often viewed as 'untouchable'.

Lord Hall, he's the Director-General of the BBC -- has given a statement. He's apologised to every victim, and said it will take some time to rebuild the public's confidence in the BBC.

There is one quote, he said, which troubles him greatly.

And that was when one of Savile's victims told a BBC employee what had happened to her and she was told -- and I quote -- "keep your mouth shut, he's a VIP".

It's hard to believe -- or perhaps it's not, actually.

What this whole horrific situation underlines is that fame is power.

And fame allows some to believe they can hover above the masses, and can act, at times, without fear of being held to account.

Savile used his celebrity to promise access to excitement and fun and fame, and then grotesquely exploited it.

And he did so believing -- knowing -- that no-one would believe anyone who complained about him, because he was famous.

He was the messiah. He was untouchable. And tragically he died before he could be held to account.