DJ Blackburn in thanks to loyal fans

DJ TONY Blackburn has thanked fans after being sacked from the BBC in the wake of the Dame Janet Smith inquiry into sexual abuse at the corporation.

Introducing his Retro Countdown show on Kent-based KMFM on Sunday afternoon, the 73-year-old said: “Thankyou very much for all your support this week.

“Thank-you as well to KMFM. I hope you enjoy the show.”

His brief message came as he claimed he was given the opportunity to resign from the BBC and engineer a return in a “few months”.

Blackburn, whose evidence to the inquiry was criticised by BBC director-general Tony Hall, said he had been made a scapegoat by the corporation.

Blackburn has strenu- ously denied he “seduced” Claire McAlpine after inviting her back to his flat following a recording of Top Of The Pops in the 1970s.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme, Blackburn said he was told that if he resigned from the BBC there would be an opportunity for him to return later.

He said: “They gave me the chance to resign, say- ing that that way you don’t actually cut off all ties from the BBC and we could probably bring you back in a few months.”

Blackburn said he refused to do that, “because I have got nothing to hide”, and stuck by the evidence he gave.

The DJ said that he wished he had been investigated at the time of the allegation, to prove that he is innocent.