BBC sorry for showing Savile send-up - NEWS.com.au

The Tweenies character Max dresses up as disgraced paedophile Jimmy Savile in a 2001 episode which has controversially been reaired. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

A police report has found thhat Jimmy Savile was a serial paedophile.  Picture: AP Source: AP

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THE BBC has apologised after airing an episode of the children's show The Tweenies with a character dressed as disgraced paedophile Jimmy Savile.

The episode, which originally aired in 2001 before it was revealed that Savile had abused hundreds of children, shows one of the puppet characters Max sporting a Savile-style wig as well as his trademark gold chains and tracksuit.

Hundreds of people have complained to the BBC about its decision to air the Savile episode.

The BBC has since apologised for broadcasting the episode on its CBeebies network.

"This morning CBeebies broadcast a repeat of an episode of the Tweenies, originally made in 2001, featuring a character dressed as a DJ impersonating Jimmy Savile," the station said in a statement.

"This program will not be repeated and we are very sorry for any offence caused."

A recent police report found that Savile, who died in 2011, was a "prolific, predatory sex offender" who abused more than 200 people.