Stuart Hall charged with indecent assaults

The 82-year-old former It’s A Knockout presenter was detained this morning at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, by police investigating the historic allegations.

In a statement the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s North West Complex Casework Unit said:

â??Following investigations by Lancashire Police into allegations of sexual assault by Stuart Hall I have reviewed all the evidence that they have gathered and have authorised Lancashire police to charge him with three counts of indecent assault.

The charges are that between 1 September 1974 and 31 December 1974 he indecently assaulted a woman who was then aged 16 or 17 years, that between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1983 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 8 or 9 years, and that between 1 July 1984 and 27 September 1984 he indecently assaulted a girl then aged 13 years.”

Mr Hall has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for fifty years, and in March was this year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours. He is known for his eccentric style of football commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, and rose to prominence presenting It’s a Knockout in the 1970s.

The BBC has said that Mr Hall will not be working for the corporation while police continue their investigation into the allegations.

Officers are understood to have arrived at the presenter’s home at 8am this morning
and left at 2pm. One officer was seen carrying two full bin bags out of
the house.

Mr Hall has been bailed to appear at Preston Magistrates court on 7 January.