The Metropolitan Police announced it would take the “national lead” in assessing the allegations after so many people came forward in the wake of the ITV documentary into the presenter.

It is understood dozens have contacted police forces around the country, national newspapers and the broadcaster.

One of them is believed to be the first male to claim he was molested by the children's TV presenter, when he was a boy aged just 12.

A former nurse claims she saw Savile abuse a hospital patient who had undergone brain surgery

The alleged offences are said to have been committed by Savile for decades – between the 1950s and the 1990s.