British comedian Tarbuck arrested over child abuse claim

Veteran British comic Jimmy Tarbuck has become the latest celebrity to be arrested in connection with a historical child sex abuse investigation, media reported on Tuesday. North Yorkshire Police confirmed that a 73-year-old man was arrested in Kingston upon Thames on April 26. The Daily Mail on Tuesday identified him as Tarbuck. Police released the former quiz show host on bail after questioning him over claims that a young boy was assaulted in the late 1970s, according to the reports. North Yorkshire Police said the arrest came after information was given to them by Metropolitan Police officers working on Operation Yewtree, the probe set up following the slew of claims against late former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile. However, the force said the arrest was "not part of Yewtree, but a separate investigation". Liverpool-born Tarbuck, a former schoolmate of Beatles icon John Lennon, was best known for hosting variety show "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" and a host of quiz shows on the ITV network. Savile, who died last year aged 84 after a long career in British television and radio, has been accused of abusing hundreds victims over a 40-year period at a number of institutions, including the BBC and three hospitals. The scandal has snowballed since claims that Savile molested underage girls were broadcast in a television documentary last year. Veteran Australian-born entertainer Rolf Harris was last month named as the 11th man questioned in the probe.