A NEW documentary will lay bare the scars borne by the victims of serial sex offender Rolf Harris.
The Australian-born artist and TV personality, who died in 2023 aged 93, was once one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers, who kept millions of kids entertained and even painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
A Prime Video documentar will re-examine Rolf Harris’ story to see what lessons can be learned[/caption]
But in 2014 his career ended in disgrace after he was jailed for nearly six years after being found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault.
Now, a documentary commissioned both by Prime Video in the UK and ABC in Australia will re-examine his story to see what lessons can be learned.
A TV insider said: “This will be a deeply honest account of this terrible story involving interviews with key individuals, including the police, survivors and experts involved in the court case.
“Interestingly, this documentary will take on an international edge because it will look at his crimes both in Britain and in Harris’s Aussie homeland.
“It’s hoped that re-examining the stories will not cause too much pain to the victims.
“Indeed, it may provide some comfort to think that what he did won’t be forgotten and lessons might be learned.
“The show will also use the story to ask if the elements within the entertainment industry that allowed him to carry out his offending have changed so that no one could ever repeat his crimes today.”
Potential participants have been approached and the show is expected to drop late in 2026.
Harris’s offending was uncovered as a result of Operation Yewtree, which was launched in 2012 after the vile crimes of Jimmy Savile came to light.
In 2014, Harris was convicted of the sexual assault of four underage girls, which ended a career which was already fading as he was well into his eighties at the time.
Prime Video was approached for comment.
F-WORD BAN FOR HUGH
HUGH BONNEVILLE is thrilled to be reprising one of his best comic roles for the BBC.
He played Ian Fletcher in both Twenty Twelve and W1A, and the character will be back as the football Word Cup’s Director of Integrity in mockumentary Twenty Twenty Six, which will be out next year in time for the tournament.
Hugh Bonneville is reprising his role as Ian Fletcher in mockumentary Twenty Twenty Six[/caption]
Hugh told Virgin Radio: “I’m parachuted into the major football organisation, which I can’t name, as Head of Integrity, and it’s all about trying to organise the next World Cup.
“We’re only allowed to say the words ‘World Cup’ once an episode apparently.
“It’s really about how people muck up meetings and get themselves into scrapes.”
He’ll fit right in at the major organisation he’s not allowed to name…
US reality royalty Kim Kardashian will be one of Graham Norton’s guests on his BBC One chat show on October 24.
She’ll be joined on the red sofa by her All’s Fair co-star Sarah Paulson, Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston, and Rachel Zegler, who recently starred in Evita.
STRICTLY CHRIS: I’M SCREWED
CHRIS ROBSHAW doesn’t just need a spray tan ahead of this week’s paso doble, he requires “a good oiling up”.
That’s because the former England rugby captain took such a battering during his playing days, his body’s been patched together by metal plates, screws and rods.
Chris, who has dubbed himself “Strictly’s Bionic Man”, explains: “This one is going to be my hardest yet, and they’ve all been pretty hard so far.
“It’s all head, shoulders, knees and toes, and after all my surgeries, I’m like the Tin Man who needs a good oiling up.
“I’m basically the bionic man, half titanium, half human.”
Chris survived the first dance-off last week and will be looking forward to Movie Week with partner Nadiya Bychkova .
With all that metal inside, The Terminator or RoboCop would be the perfect costume.
INDIA’S IN RAPTURE THRILLER
BRIDGERTON star India Amarteifo has signed up for BBC drama, The Rapture.
The actress joins Doctor Who’s Ruth Madeley as part of an already impressive cast, including Gavin & Stacey’s, Ruth Jones.
India Amarteifo has signed up for BBC drama, The Rapture[/caption]
Adapted from Liz Jensen’s bestselling novel, India plays Bethany Krall, who claims she has been wrongly convicted of killing her mother, and is estranged from her dad Leonard (Sam Hazeldine), a charismatic leader of an influential religious movement.
While in prison, Bethany meets psychologist Gabrielle Fox, played by Madeley, who claims she has psychic powers and can predict the future.
But will Bethany be taken in by it?
Filmed against a climate catastrophe, the drama is shaping up to be one to watch for the Beeb.
COMING TO BLOWS, AGAIN
A THOUSAND Blows is back and this time the Victorian bare-knuckle boxers aren’t just using their fists.
In these first-look pictures from the new series of the Disney+ hit, Edward “Treacle” Johnson (James Nelson-Joyce) menacingly brandishes a gun in their local boozer the Blue Coat Boy.
Edward ‘Treacle’ Johnson (James Nelson-Joyce) brandishes a gun in the new series of A Thousand Blows[/caption]
Jason Tobin returns as Mr Lao[/caption]
Stephen Graham stars as ‘Sugar’ Goodson[/caption]
In the show, written by Peaky Blinders creator Steve Knight, he’s plays the younger brother of “Sugar” Goodson, played by Stephen Graham.
Sugar has become estranged from his family and is drinking himself to death.
Meanwhile, Erin Doherty’s character Mary Carr has burst back into town to reassemble her mischievous and hard-nosed gang of bruisers.
Malachi Kirby also returns as Hezekiah Moscow, alongside Jason Tobin as Mr Lao.
The six-parter, which is sure to be a knockout, will be available to stream on January 9.
