Channel 4’s Jon Snow discusses childhood abuse

Channel 4’s news presenter Jon Snow revealed on his blog on Monday of the childhood abuse that was “regurgitated” after Jimmy Savile‘s victims came forward.

Snow described the memory of being six years old when “a member of the domestic staff at the school, where my father taught, abducted me. He took me to his room and undressed me, and then himself”.

Snow recalls how he remembers “to this day fretting over not being able to do my braces up”.

Snow said the BBC Savile sex abuse case “is forcing many to relive the abuse inflicted upon them,” and commended the bravery of victims who have come forward.

He added that Savile “exposed the institutional tolerance of the established media to gross misbehaviour, so long as the celebrity was big enough”.

Past practices of the media were also recounted in the blog. Snow said for women “remarks about physique and ‘sexiness’ were rife” and how “there was a constant and prodigious intake of alcohol”.

The blog also mentioned recent abuse claims in parliament and the church, stating, “allegations are flying around the corridors of virtually every institution in Britain”.

Amongst a flurry of UK abuse allegations, Snow said “this is a dramatic moment in the affairs of men and women; we shall all be tested”, adding that “no amount of effort in responding to complainants must be spared, but neither must it be allowed to become a witch-hunt”.

There are already more than 40 responses to the blog, including one user who commented: “placing responsibility with the abusers and placing guilt on the floor”. Another user said: “the more we know, the easier it will be for people to speak out…hopefully”.

Snow’s revelations were originally published in Shooting History, his 2004 autobiography.

Lucy Woods