Shamed DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile, who has been branded a serial sex criminal and whose alleged criminal activities over a long career are now being probed by police, has been posthumously stripped of the honorary doctorate he was given by the University of Bedfordshire.
Savile, who died in 2011, was presented with the honour at a prestigious ceremony in 2009 by the then vice-chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon.
According to national newspaper reports, the university has now decided to annul the accolade..
A university spokesman is reported as saying: “The board of governors’ nominations and honours committee met to confirm that the honorary degree would be rescinded.
“The honorary award was in recognition of his charitable fund-raising. It was given in good faith without the knowledge of the current very serious allegations.”
Before the 2009 ceremony, Sir Jimmy was interviewed by the university for a television broadcast.
The interviewer asked him if he was “carrying on leading an interesting life”.
He replied: “Yes, well, I’ve not been found out yet.”