Rolf Harris’s greatest fear was not being loved – his depraved crimes ensure that he won’t be
Rolf Harris’s legacy will not be as an artist who painted the Queen, or a musician who played with The Beatles, but rather as a sexual predator who carried out decades of abuse.
Once considered a jovial entertainer, on our screens for more than 60 years, a high-profile trial in 2014 saw him convicted of carrying out sex attacks on girls as young as seven.
Prosecutor Sasha Wass QC described Harris as a “Jekyll and Hyde” character, who, despite his child-friendly public image, was a “sinister pervert” with a “demon lurking beneath his charming exterior”.
The fact his depraved actions went without punishment for so long adds to the trauma for many of his victims, who say they will never recover.
How did his crimes go unchecked?
Again and again, Southwark Crown Court heard about the large, all-enveloping bear hug he would use to trap victims, swiftly sexually assaulting them before moving on as if nothing had happened.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence was a letter he sent to the father of one of his victims, in which he admitted he had a sexual relationship with her, but denied it began when she was just 13.
In the letter, Harris said he was shocked when his former victim told him she had gone along with everything he did “out of fear” and had asked her: “Why did you never just say no?”
He said she replied: “How could [I] say no to the great television star Rolf Harris?”
Read more: Harris, convicted paedophile who used his fame to groom young girls, dies
Rolf Harris once visited Buckingham Palace to paint the Queen
Harris filmed NSPCC video while abusing youngsters
One early sign of his brazen self-belief can be found in an educational video titled Kids Can Say No.
Harris himself suggested the safety video was made, even contacting the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to gain advice on the best way to teach children about stranger danger.
Harris is now known to have been actively abusing youngsters at the time.
Filmed in 1985, Harris presents the 20-minute video, and tells a group of primary school-age children, “even people you know and trust can be abusers”.
He goes on to warn them, “sometimes people do things to one another that don’t make them feel good”.
In the video’s finale, a large group of children and adults are led by Harris in singing: “My body’s nobody’s body but mine. You’ve got your own body, let me have mine.”
Two uniformed police officers make up part of the choir.
A young Harris pictured in 1955, three years after moving to the UK
Harris on Savile: ‘We go back a long time’
Skipping forward seven years, and more archive footage – this time of Harris drawing paedophile DJ Jimmy Savile in 1992 and joking “we go back a long time” – now has disturbing implications.
Savile died aged 84 in 2011, having never been brought to justice for his crimes. He is now believed to be one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders.
Harris’s 2014 trial saw a jury of six men and six women find him guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on women and girls between 1969 and 1986. One of those convictions was later overturned.
Sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, he served just three.
Harris always denied the accusations against him and showed no remorse for his crimes.
Harris with entertainer Rod Hull and Emu in 1987
Why did Harris feel untouchable?
Described in court as an arrogant man, who carried out many of his attacks in plain sight, Harris seemed to believe himself untouchable.
Born in Perth, Australia, to parents who had emigrated from Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, Harris moved to the UK in 1952.
He met his wife Alwen, a sculptor – who stood by him throughout his trial and time in jail – when they were both art students in London.
Harris leaving court with his wife Alwen (L) and daughter Bindi (R) in June 2014
With a fair talent for painting and music, and ability to chat and entertain, it was a 10-minute art slot on a BBC children’s programme alongside a puppet called Fuzz that gave him the first taste of the limelight in 1953.
Swiftly embraced by British TV, he went on to front popular shows including The Rolf Harris Show, Rolf’s Cartoon Club and Rolf On Art.
A musical career, mainly with novelty songs, saw him top the charts with his cover version of Two Little Boys resting at number 1 for six weeks.
Harris’s career defied that of many children’s presenters, who struggle to maintain popularity after progressing into more mainstream shows.
His 10-year stint presenting Animal Hospital from 1994 to 2004 kept him a household name. Frequently becoming emotional about an unwell puppy or injured cat, it was an empathy Harris seemed unable to offer to his victims.
Harris was a fan of the didgeridoo, and claims to have invented the wobble board
Following his conviction, he wrote a song in jail, describing his victims as money-grabbing “wenches” who want to make him “dance”.
Harris may have wanted to be remembered as a warm-hearted man who loved animals, invented the wobble board and could draw at the speed of light.
Stripped of his CBE and BAFTA fellowship, he will instead be remembered as a paedophile and serial sexual abuser.
Harris once told a journalist his greatest fear was not being loved.
As news of his death aged 93 is met around the world, it’s a fear that has been realised, due to his actions – and his actions alone.
Entertainment
Sydney Sweeney responds to ‘sad and shameful’ producer who said she ‘can’t act’ and ‘isn’t pretty’
Sydney Sweeney has hit back at a Hollywood producer who said she “can’t act” and is “not pretty”, calling her comments “sad” and “shameful”.
The 26-year-old actress, who’s starred in hits including White Lotus and Euphoria, is hot property in LA right now, most recently producing and starring in independent horror film Immaculate – just one of three feature films she’s had out in the last six months.
Producer Carol Baum, pictured in 2007. Pic: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for CineVegas
However, the Emmy-nominated actress came in for negative attention from veteran producer Carol Baum, who specifically referenced Sweeney following a film screening, asking the audience: “She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?”
Baum, who has produced over 30 movies including Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Father Of The Bride, was speaking in front of a live audience with New York Times film critic Janet Maslin at an event in Pleasantville, New York, following a screening of her 1988 film Dead Ringers, staring Jeremy Irons.
Responding to the comments, a representative for Sweeney told Sky News: “How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman.
“If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that’s shameful.
“To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms Baum’s character.”
Baum’s comments, reported in Variety, were: “There’s an actress who everybody loves now: Sydney Sweeney. I don’t get Sydney Sweeney. I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney’s movie [Anyone But You] because I wanted to watch it.
“I wanted to know who she is and why everybody’s talking about her. I watched this unwatchable movie – sorry to people who love this… romantic comedy where they hate each other.”
Sweeney, far right, in Madame Web. Pic: Madame Web trailer/Sony Pictures Entertainment
‘She’s not pretty, she can’t act’
Baum, who also lectures at the University of Southern California went on: “I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me. She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?’
“Nobody had an answer. But then the question was asked, ‘Well, if you could get your movie made because she was in it, would you do it?’…
“That’s a very hard question to answer because we all want to get the movie made, and who walks away from a green light? Nobody I know. Your job is to get the movie made.”
Rom com Anyone But You, which also stars actor Glen Powell, was a surprise hit taking £218m (£175m) worldwide at the box office.
‘It IS unwatchable’
Journalist Maslin later referenced the discussion on Twitter, writing: “It IS unwatchable. Carol Baum said this after we screened Dead Ringers at the Jacob Burns Film Center and she mentioned having seen Anyone But You on a plane”.
Maslin did not directly mention Baum’s comments about Sweeney’s looks or acting.
Baum has since expressed “regret” over her words, according to American celebrity gossip site TMZ.
Sky News has contacted Carol Baum for comment.
A woman who stalked Harry Styles has been jailed and banned from seeing him perform.
Myra Carvalho, 35, who appeared at Harrow Crown Court sitting at Hendon Magistrates’ Court in London, was said to have stalked the 30-year-old English singer by sending him 8,000 cards in less than a month.
She was sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty on Tuesday to a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, a court official said.
A restraining order lasting for 10 years was also imposed on Carvalho who was also told she cannot attend any event where Styles is performing.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Carvalho, who had been staying at a backpacker hostel in Kensington and Chelsea, south west London, was also ordered not to contact Styles, directly or indirectly.
She has been told not to enter an area of north west London which was described in the court, the official added.
She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £134.
Entertainment
NFL star Travis Kelce: Taylor Swift’s boyfriend lands presenting role on celebrity spin-off of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
Travis Kelce has landed his first TV presenting role – hosting the game show Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity?
The American Football star – who has become more famous since he began dating Taylor Swift last year – plays for the Kansas City Chiefs and helped them win the Super Bowl for a second year running in February.
Kelce and Swift at Coachella. Pic: Jennifer Johnson/Shutterstock for Neon Carnival
Their high-profile relationship has been credited with bringing NFL a legion of new fans, and causing a buzz every time they’re seen out together, including their recent date night at the Coachella music festival.
The Prime Video production is a spin-off of the popular US game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, which first aired on Fox in 2007 and was hosted by US comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
It was later revived by Nickelodeon in 2019, fronted by action star John Cena, and also spawned a board game and a book.
In the UK, the show was remade as Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old?, and was fronted by Noel Edmonds, and later by Dick and Dom.
In Kelce’s new spin-off of the show, an adult contestant will be given 11 elementary-level questions which they can ask a classroom of various celebrities for help answering.
The final question is from the sixth grade curriculum and is worth $100,000 (£80,000). Only one celebrity is allowed to talk through the answer to the last question with the contestant. Sixth grade students in the US are usually 11-12 years old.
Filming for the 20-episode series has already finished.
Swift at this year’s Super Bowl with Kelce. Pic: Reuters
‘The ultimate class clown’
Kelce said in a statement that he grew up watching game shows and is “excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons”.
He went on: “The original show is a great success, so to be bringing a new format with everyone’s favourite celebrities to the screen, will definitely be entertaining.
“I’m just happy to be on the hosting side of the equation here and excited to see how these famous faces keep up.”
The original series co-creator Barry Poznick called Kelce “the ultimate class clown,” adding, “replacing the kids with celebrities gives us more laughs and surprises, like a roast, as contestants cheat off their famous classmates”.
Earlier this month, Kelce picked up his degree from the University of Cincinnati, 12 years after he finished his course.
He completed his remaining credit hours in 2022 to earn his degree in interdisciplinary studies, according to The Cincinnati Inquirer.
Producer, podcaster and festival founder
Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity? isn’t Kelce’s first TV role. He starred in his own 2016 dating competition show for E! called Catching Kelce and hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live last year.
He’s also a producer on the upcoming documentary King Pleasure, about American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Away from TV, he co-hosts a podcast New Heights with his brother, fellow NFL star Jason Kelce, chatting about popular culture as well as football.
He has also launched his own music festival, Kelce Jam, which will take place for the second year later this month, with starts including Lil Wayne and Diplo headlining.
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