A sexual abuse scandal at UK public service broadcaster the BBC deepened yesterday after it altered part of the story behind its decision not to air an investigation into claims of abuse by ex-TV presenter Jimmy Savile.

The U-turns came as Peter Rippon, editor of the BBC’s current affairs programme Newsnight, which had been looking into the alleged abuse, stepped aside. They attracted criticism from Prime Minister David Cameron who said the developments raised serious questions for the BBC on why it axed its investigation into the allegations.

“The nation is appalled, we are all appalled by the allegations of what Jimmy Savile did and they seem to get worse by the day,’’ he said. “The developments today are concerning because the BBC has effectively changed its story about why it dropped the Newsnight programme about Jimmy Savile.”