Starr quizzed again in Savile probe

Freddie Starr, who was arrested on Thursday by police officers investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, returned for further questioning on Friday.

The comedian, from Warwickshire, was arrested on Thursday and bailed in the early hours of today (Friday)

He is being interviewed on suspicion of sexual offences and falls under the strand of the investigation classed as "Savile and others".

Starr, 69, has strongly denied accusations linked to the abuse claims.

Last month he branded Savile "despicable" and "disgusting", and urged police to interview him so he could clear his name.

His arrest follows that of Gary Glitter on Sunday by officers working on Operation Yewtree. Former pop star Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was questioned at a London police station after being detained at his home in the capital.

Savile, who died last year, is now believed to have been one of the UK's most prolific abusers, with about 300 possible victims. Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into the star's activities.

Detectives are following 400 lines of inquiry while the BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of Savile's alleged sexual abuse. It's also looking at the decision-making process which saw a Newsnight investigation into Savile's activities shelved. The review will report back on its findings later this month.

PR guru Max Clifford has said that a lot of old stars are worried about being dragged into the investigation because they had appeared on Top Of The Pops or Jim'll Fix It and merely posed for photographs with girls and Savile.

"It is a situation which could easily turn into a witch hunt, a lot of big stars are frightened," Mr Clifford told ITV's Daybreak. "Where is it going to end? I hope they (the police) concentrate on finding people like Jimmy Savile who were manipulating girls."