Hunt: BBC could face full public inquiry on Savile

The BBC could face a full public inquiry into the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal if the corporation's investigations do not "get to the bottom" of the accusations, the Culture Secretary said.

The national broadcaster has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of the late television star and it is also looking at the decision-making process which saw a Newsnight investigation into the Jim'll Fix it star's activities shelved.

Speaking about the probe, Maria Miller told The Sunday Telegraph: "The real challenge for the BBC is to make sure that the outcome of these reviews really gets to the bottom of these accusations.

"If the investigations are considered not to suffice because of issues around transparency, process or other such things, then a public inquiry remains an option."