Ghosts of Sex Crimes Past

So, Coronation Street actor William Roach says that he's 'astounded' at the allegations which have seen him charged with the rape of a 15 year old girl in 1967.   Really?  When you've spent the past twelve months or so bragging about your sixty years of sexual conquests, boasting about all the female co-stars you've allegedly bedded and revelling in the fact that your fellow cast members supposedly nicknamed you 'Cock', ('Cock' Roach - geddit?) - out of jealousy, obviously - then you really shouldn't be surprised when somebody starts throwing accusations of sexual misconduct around.  If you have committed a sex crime - and 'Cock' is obviously innocent until proven otherwise - then this is just the sort of behaviour to provoke a hitherto silent victim into finally reporting you.  Alternatively, if you haven't done anything wrong, then this sort of ungentlemanly bragging is just the sort of thing to inspire false allegations.  Either way, 'Cock' really shouldn't be surprised to find himself the latest celebrity pensioner to fall foul of the fall out from the Jimmy Savile scandal.  He set himself up for it.

Interestingly, Roach and Savile have something in common.  Sir Jimmy was a prominent supporter of the late Tory Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, even being invited to spend New Year with her at Chequers, whilst 'Cock' Roach is a prominent celebrity supporter of the Tory Party and probably met Maggie at some point, (I really can't be bothered to check whether he did or not).  Coincidence?  Or is there some sinister link?  Or am I just trying to stir the shit again?  I've no idea if Stuart Hall is a supporter of the Tory Party, or if he ever met Mrs T, but today he pleaded guilty to a number of indecent assaults on young women and girls, (one as young as nine).  Allegations he claimed to have been astounded by when the story first broke.  I wonder if he'll laugh uproariously when he's sentenced, like he used to do when some misfortune befell a contestant on It's a Knockout?  Will he play his joker, (or am I getting confused with another 1970s game show)?  Still, there's another TV programme they'll never be able to repeat or show excerpts from again, due to the misconduct of its presenter,  Even as we speak, the BBC are probably busy wiping every edition of It's a Knockout they have in the archives.