Glitter: The Popstar Paedophile review – Shocking TV clips that will make you wonder how he got away with it, writes ROLAND WHITE
Glitter: The Pop Star Pedophile (ITV1)
In retrospect, it’s impossible to watch Gary Glitter and Jimmy Savile together on television without feeling a little nauseous.
“Do young ladies go out of their way to come next to you,” Savile asked in a video shown Glitter: the pop star pedophile.
Just the way Savile says “young ladies” is enough to turn your stomach. The way it was at the time, honestly.
“Yes, thank God,” Glitter says. “I’m looking around the audience now.”
“We’ve got some beanbags for you,” says Savile. ‘We always list our artists.’ How did we not know? They were so clear. Or maybe we did know.
Gary Glitter at home in 1972. The convicted child molester is the subject of the new ITV1 documentary Glitter: The Popstar Pedophile
The documentary investigates how Glitter was able to abuse children unnoticed for so long
Glitter was known for his eccentric outfits and energetic music – before the glam rock icon was exposed as a serial sex offender
Gary Glitter is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in Britain for abusing three schoolgirls after losing a Parole Board bid for freedom earlier this year
In 1992, Glitter was interviewed by Paula Yates on The Big Breakfast. “Who are you coaching to your house?” Paula asked.
“We’ve got some good friends coming over,” Glitter said, looking uncomfortable and clearly wondering what would happen next.
“Are they very young?” Paula said with a winning smile.
We now know that they can be very young indeed. The disgraced king of glam rock was convicted of, among other things, the attempted rape of an eight-year-old girl who was staying at his home.
If you weren’t there, it’s hard to understand the impact Gary Glitter had on the 1970s with his energetic music, silver platform boots and outrageous outfits (some of which looked like they were borrowed from a low-budget episode of Doctor WHO) .
As one music journalist put it, “He inspired you to think there was more to life than nine-to-five boredom.”
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was first exposed as a sex offender by News Of The World in 1993. They reported that he had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl, but seemed more interested in the fact that he was bald.
Another year later, Glitter was the subject of a lavish tribute on the BBC Children In Need programme. In 1997 his songs were sung by the Spice Girls. So much for Girl Power.
He was convicted of child pornography offenses in 1999 and, after a short prison sentence, fled to Cambodia and Vietnam, where he started offending again.
He is currently serving 16 years in prison in Britain for abusing three schoolgirls. That conviction followed Operation Yewtree, obviously prompted by the revelations about Jimmy Savile.
How did he get away with it for so long? Broadcaster Iain Lee, who was abused as a child, said: ‘It sometimes takes decades for people to come forward.’
What made this viewing experience particularly difficult was a thought lurking in the back of my mind.
Could this still happen today? Are any of our beloved household names taking advantage of their fame to cover up sexual abuse?
Which of today’s big names could be featured in similar documentaries in the coming years? Disturbing…
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