Dr Who fan abuse claims investigated

Producer Richard Marson accused the program's late boss of taking advantage of young fans. Photo / Supplied

BBC executives have launched a new investigation into reports suggesting underage Doctor Who fans were abused by show producers in the 1980s.

Former TV producer Richard Marson has accused the sci-fi program's one-time boss John Nathan-Turner and his partner Gary Downie - who are both now deceased - of taking advantage of young male fans.

Marson alleges the boys involved were mostly under 21, the age of consent for gay men at the time.

The latest abuse claims come after the Sir Jimmy Savile scandal last year, when it emerged the late TV presenter sexually assaulted several victims, including many children, during his time at the BBC.

The judge in charge of the Savile investigation, Dame Janet Smith, will also head a probe into Marson's allegations, which stem from a new book on Nathan-Turner.

A spokesperson for the BBC says, "We can't comment on individual cases but allegations of this nature are extremely serious. We have set up the Dame Janet Smith review to help us understand how alleged incidents of this nature could have been committed. And so we can avoid them happening ever again."

- WENN