Going by the description that Simpson gives, and the years in which the man lived and worked for the BBC, he has to be talking about Derek McCulloch who joined the BBC in the 1920s and died in 1967. He was nationally-known as 'Uncle Mac', the long-time presenter of a radio show called Children's Hour. I remember listening to him myself when I was a kid as millions did for decades.

'He is alleged have taken children, who won competitions, into the BBC toilets and abused them. During his stardom he was so famous he reportedly gave tours of the studios to royalty, including the Queen.

Simpson said he heard of the allegations when Uncle Dick - whose real name is not known - died. He had been asked to write an obituary for the presenter and was given the details of the abuse by a female colleague of the star, who he referred to as 'Auntie Gladys'. He said she referred to the man as 'an evil old b******' and added: 'I hope he died in agony.'

Read more: BBC covered up a second 'national treasure' child abuser known as Uncle Dick, claims veteran reporter John Simpson