Disgraced late TV presenter Jimmy Savile was banned from appearing on the BBC’s fundraising event Children in Need, its former chairman has revealed.

Savile has been accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young girls over his four decades in show business, and now Sir Roger Jones, chairman of Children in Need from 1999 to 2002, has told BBC News that Savile was not allowed to be involved with the charity.

The former Jim’ll Fix It presenter had made at least three appearances on the televised fundraiser for disadvantaged children during the 1980s, but when Sir Roger was appointed he banned him from being involved.

"He was a creepy sort of character - we didn't want him anywhere near the charity,” he told BBC News.

“I couldn't tell that he was a practicing paedophile - but I didn't have to. On my watch, Children In Need was properly covered. There were no incidents, we did everything we could to protect the children.”

Sir Roger, who was also member of Children in Need’s board of governors between 1997 and 2002, added that he would have stepped down from his Children in Need role if Savile had become involved with the charity.

Last week the trustees of two charities bearing the Jimmy Savile name announced they would be winding up, following the TV personality's abuse scandal.