Exposure: The Other Side Of Jimmy Savile will centre on claims by women dating back to the 1970s, including allegations that he abused young girls at BBC TV Centre. The channel has stated that the documentary was produced with a degree of sensitivity.
This documentary is the result of an in-depth investigation into long-standing allegations of serious and widespread sexual misconduct by Sir Jimmy Savile," an ITV spokesman said. "Because of the very serious nature of the claims made by several interviewees in relation to this, particular care and consideration was of course given to the decision to produce and broadcast this programme.
"The programme takes full account of the fact that Sir Jimmy is not here to defend himself against these claims."
Presenter by former detective Mark Williams-Thomas, the programme includes interviews with several women who claim that Savile sexually assaulted them at a young age.
ITV has said that one of the women said she was too scared to speak about the incident while Savile was still alive.
Esther Rantzen has also stated her belief that Savile had abused young girls, after seeing the documentary.
"We all blocked our ears. There was gossip, there were rumours," Rantzen told The Mail on Sunday. "We made him into the Jimmy Savile who was untouchable, who nobody could criticise.
"It's very distressing. We made him into the Jimmy Savile who was untouchable, who nobody could criticise. He was a sort of god-like figure. Everybody knew of the good that Jimmy did and what he did for children. And these children were powerless."
The BBC has also dismissed claims that there has been a cover-up of information regarding Savile, saying in a statement that it has "conducted extensive searches of its files to establish whether there is any record of misconduct or allegations of misconduct by Sir Jimmy Savile during his time at the BBC", adding that "no such evidence has been found".
"Whilst the BBC condemns any behaviour of the type alleged in the strongest terms, in the absence of evidence of any kind found at the BBC that corroborates the allegations that have been made, it is simply not possible for the corporation to take any further action," the statement continued.
The corporation has also explained once again why a Newsnight special about Savile and the accusations made against him did not get broadcast.
Newsnight editor Peter Rippon said: "It is absolutely untrue that the Newsnight investigation was dropped for anything other than editorial reasons.
"We have been very clear from the start that the piece was not broadcast because the story we were pursuing could not be substantiated. To say otherwise is false and very damaging to the BBC and individuals. The notion that internal pressure was applied appears to be a malicious rumour."
Exposure: The Other Side Of Jimmy Savile will air on Wednesday, October 3 on ITV.
