Jimmy Tarbuck is allged to have assaulted a young boy in the 1970s (wikicomms)
Jimmy Tarbuck is alleged to have assaulted a young boy in the 1970s (wikicomms)

Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck has been arrested in connection with allegations of child sex abuse over 30 years ago.

Tarbuck, 73, was arrested by North Yorkshire police on 26 April over allegations he sexually abused a young boy in Harrogate in the late 1970s.

It is understood the comedian was arrested at his home in Kingston Upon Thames, south-west London, and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Police said his arrest is not part of Opetration Yewtree - the police operation set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal - but a separate investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

A police spokesperson added Tarbuck was arrested after information from Metropolitan Police officers working on Yewtree was passed on to the force.

The spokesperson 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 26 April 2013.

"Following questioning, he was released on police bail pending further enquiries.

"The complaint relates to an incident that occurred in the late 1970s when the victim was a young boy.

"The arrest follows information passed to North Yorkshire Police by Metropolitan Police officers working on Operation Yewtree.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

Tarbuck is best known as a stand-up comedian, but has also presented a number of quiz shows such as Winner Takes All and Full Swing.

He was awarded an OBE for his services to showbusiness and charity in 1994.