Developments in Britain's child sex-abuse scandal

October 29, 2011 The longtime BBC children's television host, Jimmy Savile, dies at the age of 84. The platinum haired entertainer is hailed as a true English eccentric when he is buried 10 days later.

December The BBC pulls a Newsnight programme that would have linked Savile to the repeated sexual abuse of children during his career at the broadcaster.

September 17, 2012 George Entwistle named BBC director general, succeeding Mark Thompson, who is becoming chief executive of The New York Times this month.

October 3 The extended media silence about Savile's sex abuse is broken with a documentary by the BBC's main commercial rival, ITV. The broadcast exposes the dark side of Savile's life, which had been rumoured but not documented. The show prompts an inquiry by police, which later leads to a formal criminal investigation into alleged sexual abuse by Savile and others.

October 12 With the police investigation producing many new leads, Mr Entwistle announces the broadcaster will launch an official review of its culture and practices at the time of Savile's offences and investigate why the earlier Newsnight programme was shelved.

October 23 Mr Entwistle appears before British legislators to address the BBC's handling of the Savile crisis.

November 10 Mr Entwistle resigns.