[90s fan]

Now that Leonard Rossiter is the latest legend to involved in the rape clams, would other stars names from the BBC and ITV be revealed, we don’t want to wipe half the memories of the golden age of TV.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Originally Posted by 90s fan

Now that Leonard Rossiter is the latest legend to involved in the rape clams, would other stars names from the BBC and ITV be revealed....?

Rape clams!? The world's their oyster!

[ftv]

Given that Savile seemed to be most ''active'' in the 60s and 70s it's not really surprising that many of his alleged ''accomplices'' are no longer around.Of course this makes it extremely easy for people to come out with all sorts of allegations that would never stand up in a court of law (and the media know the dead can't sue for libel).

[bob up and down]

What on earth will Rossiters widow and child(ren) be thinking now? These allegations are awful and as yet there is no proof of anything.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Originally Posted by ftv

that would never stand up in a court of law

As the excited flasher's QC said!

[ftv]

It's perhaps food for thought that when The Sun falsely accused Sir Elton John of using rent boys (he could prove he was out of the country at the time they claimed) the paper had to pay him £1 million in libel damages.That's the sort of money we're talking about if the people are still alive and the claims are shown to be untrue.

[mel_drew]

This latest accusation is well weird.

Young actor signs on to do a play in which Rossiter plays a judge watching.people performing sex acts. Forty years later he accuses Rossiter of watching while someone performs a sex act on him.

[90s fan]

More celeb paedos will be revealed http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view...-CELEB-PAEDOS/

[Glenn A]

I just hope this isn't a way of discrediting celebs people don't like. I don't like Phil Schofield, but there is no way I would invent stories about him being a paedophile on CBBC to discredit him.

[stu0rt]

Originally Posted by Glenn A

I just hope this isn't a way of discrediting celebs people don't like. I don't like Phil Schofield, but there is no way I would invent stories about him being a paedophile on CBBC to discredit him.

But *someone* was fisting that gopher every day whilst he watched :O

[eviled2010]

Goodnight Vienna

[Norrin_Radd]

Rape clams are no laughing matter.

[zx50]

I think there's probably a lot of dead celebrities who've taken part in the rape of someone, either at their work, or away from work. People tend to think of the celebrity world as being criminal free, but I bet there's a lot going on that the public would be shocked about.

[abarthman]

Originally Posted by Glenn A

I don't like Phil Schofield, but there is no way I would invent stories about him being a paedophile on CBBC to discredit him.

Has his name been mentioned now?

I never liked the look of him.

[darkisland]

Originally Posted by abarthman

Has his name been mentioned now?

I never liked the look of him.

And he hasn't issued a denial !

[Lizaj]

Originally Posted by Norrin_Radd

Rape clams are no laughing matter.

Amen to that.
In the 21st century we perceive (quite rightly) rape differently. The right of a woman to say no. That didn't exist ,in the eyes of society decades a ago if you A) put yourself in a vulnerable position B) if you wore "provocative " clothes C) if you had a "reputation" D) if you were a sex worker ( or even dancer in skimpy clothing) and certainlyE) if your rapist were your husband.
Rich and powerful people have literally "got away wth murder" let alone rape for centuries.
In the 21st century some women (and men) who were vulnerable,gullible young people. some wives and fiances have started to question why they should have felt guilty!

Sadly there will be some who take advantage of this situation but we should not forget those whose lives have been truly tainted by their experiences. I am not sure that monetary compensation is the answer unless it is to pay for assistance in coming to terms with what happened in the past.

[lundavra]

Originally Posted by zx50

I think there's probably a lot of dead celebrities who've taken part in the rape of someone, either at their work, or away from work. People tend to think of the celebrity world as being criminal free, but I bet there's a lot going on that the public would be shocked about.

But are there a greater proportion of celebrities than others who are guilty? I suspect that much of the present string of claims is being encouraged by lawyers wanting their commission on "compoensation" claims. One comment today from the retired head of an Approved School who says she never heard anything whilst in the job and that most of the girls would do anything for cigarettes or money.

[mo mouse]

I really hope the Two Ronnies don't get dragged into this

[Norrin_Radd]

I think if Ronnie Corbett was facing a rape clam he'd find it very tough to get over.

[Eurostar]

Originally Posted by abarthman

Has his name been mentioned now?

I never liked the look of him.

I've always assumed he must be gay (no idea about anything else though).

[wizzywick]

Unless definitive evidence that totally and categorically link both Glitter and Starr to any type of sexual misbehaviour, it would be wrong and totally unethical to name any other celebrity as a pervert or paeodophile just because a few people may say they were groped in the 60's or 70's. Unless what they did was proper, perverse acts of sexual abuse, this should not be continued as it is becoming like a Hammer Horror where a Witchfinder General is required.

The media world has always been an environment where sleeping around for favours has taken place. If a 15 year old girl insists she is 16 in a time where ID was never required (how many in the 60's and 70's had passports?), then that girl is as willing a participant as the person groping her because she:

a) went willingly to a celebrity's dressing room and
b) was likely to have been promised something in return for something for which she happily obliged.

We are talking about standards and cultures of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Not the 90's, 00's and 10's where ethics, attitudes and laws reflected greater what is perceived as right and wrong.

[Norrin_Radd]

Having sex with a 15 year old was considered pretty wrong in the 50s & 60s too. Witness how Jerry Lee Lewis's 'child bride' (15) affected his career, both in the UK and the US.

[wizzywick]

Originally Posted by Norrin_Radd

Having sex with a 15 year old was considered pretty wrong in the 50s & 60s too. Witness how Jerry Lee Lewis's 'child bride' (15) affected his career, both in the UK and the US.

Oh. I agree. I'm not saying that having sex with a 15 year old is right. But what I am saying is that if a 15 year old girl insisted to broadcasters that she was 16 in order to gain access to shows like Oh Boy! and Six Five Special and later on TOTP, then who was going to ask questions if she was willing to go backstage to be with stars?

[Stevie_Donald]

Originally Posted by zx50

I think there's probably a lot of dead celebrities who've taken part in the rape of someone, either at their work, or away from work. People tend to think of the celebrity world as being criminal free, but I bet there's a lot going on that the public would be shocked about.

A lot?

How many is that then?

Ten, twenty a hundred, a thousand?

Celebs are people with the same foibles as the rest of us but to come out with a statement like that is just odd.

Better to say there's probably a lot of people who have taken part in rape

Just as sensible a statement.

[Norrin_Radd]

I agree that then as now, if a 15 year old is determined to pretend to be older to get what she wants, it might be tough to stop it. And we do have stricter controls than in the past, though in my experience wandering around BBC Television Centre once you are inside is quite easy. Anyway, 15 year olds need protecting from themselves, even if they are willing to exchange sexual favours from Jimmy Savile for access to the Bay City Rollers. I think we need to differentiate about who might have been lax in protecting these girls because they had a show to make, and who might have been actively involved in abusing them, or covering up abuse - even if it is 'just a grope.'