Veteran comedian Jimmy Tarbuck today spent the morning behind closed doors, refusing to comment, following his arrest over an alleged sexual assault on a young boy in the 1970s.
The 73-year-old TV star, who lives in an exclusive gated development in Kingston upon Thames, was questioned by officers on April 26 but the arrest had remained secret because North Yorkshire Police chose not to release the information.
It came after the force received information from the Metropolitan Police working on Operation Yewtree, the inquiry investigating abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile and others.
Mr Tarbuck, who lives with his wife Pauline, today said he had “no comment” to make.
A police spokesman said: “North Yorkshire Police can confirm that a 73-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a historic child sex abuse investigation in Harrogate.
“The man was arrested in Kingston upon Thames on Friday, April 26 2013.
“Following questioning, he was released on police bail pending further inquiries.
“The complaint relates to an incident that occurred in the late 1970s when the victim was a young boy.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Mr Tarbuck, who was awarded an OBE by the Queen in 1994, has spent more than 50 years in the television industry.
The father-of-three is the latest in a string of veteran celebrities to be arrested on suspicion of sex offences allegedly committed over the past few decades, including convicted paedophile Gary Glitter, comics Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, presenter Rolf Harris and DJ Dave Lee Travis.
All deny any wrongdoing and investigations are continuing.
Last week, former BBC star Stuart Hall pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting 13 girls, the youngest aged nine, between the 1960s and the 1980s. Police said that the news of his arrest led to more victims coming forward.
