Jimmy Savile: Newsnight editor blocked airing of sexual assault story Jimmy Savile: the BBC's Newsnight team conducted an investigation late last year into sexual assault allegations. Photograph: Alex Maguire/Rex Features Newsnight journalists investigating Sir Jimmy Savile were told in late 2011 by the BBC programme's editor they could not broadcast what they thought was a nearly complete film about the late Jim'll Fix It presenter's alleged abuse of young women. The intervention by Peter Rippon, Newsnight's editor, prompted a furious row behind the scenes and led journalists connected with the programme to ask questions in private about what more senior BBC bosses knew about the film and the decision to drop it. It is understood that the investigating team had conducted interviews with about 10 people who either say they had been abused by the famous BBC presenter - or were corroborating witnesses. Some were on the record; others were anonymised because those involved were reluctant to give their names. Those involved were confident enough in their material to put together a script for a 10- or 12-minute package - indicating that they believed their film was largely complete. A date for the film's transmission, in mid-December of last year, was scheduled - a couple of weeks ahead of Christmas-time tributes the BBC was planning for the presenter of Top of the Pops, creating a potential embarrassment for the corporation. However, despite overcoming an initial hurdle set by Rippon, a new requirement was introduced that resulted in the Newsnight film not airing. Newsnight began its investigation into Savile and the allegations of sexual abuse after he died aged 84 in October 2011, and quickly contacted former pupils of Duncroft Approved School, near Staines, who alleged they were his victims. The Jim'll Fix It presenter was a regular visitor to the school in the 1970s. Initially, it was agreed that Newsnight would only proceed to air the film if it could be confirmed that Surrey police had investigated Savile in the past. This test was met when the force confirmed in private that Savile had been interviewed under caution in 2007 - a fact not stated in public until earlier today. At this point it emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded that it was not in the public interest to charge Savile, and the Newsnight team was asked to find out why. Some of those interviewed for the programme said they believed Savile was not charged because by then he was too old. It is understood that the programme makers were asked to confirm this with the CPS, but the prosecutors would only say they did not proceed for lack of evidence. This was enough to ensure that the Newsnight film did not make it to air, a hurdle that BBC source believe was not achievable. It is not clear who - if anybody - Rippon consulted at the BBC as the bar on conditions that had to be met to air the film changed. Official BBC sources insisted that the decision not to air the programme was an editorial judgment made by the Newsnight editor, and not by any senior executive above him. It is understood that Helen Boaden, the director of BBC News, was made aware of the Newsnight investigation as part of routine editorial procedures. However, insiders insisted she did not take the final decision on whether the programme should be broadcast. Newsnight journalists were investigating whether there was any "institutional blame" involved in the allegations. They investigated why Surrey police and, later, the CPS took no further action after the claims were made and Savile was questioned under caution in 2007. The BBC said: "It is absolutely untrue that the Newsnight investigation was dropped for anything other than editorial reasons. No pressure was applied to drop this investigation. None. To suggest otherwise is to risk impugning the professional reputation and integrity of a number of journalists.