London Evening Standard/London

Rolf Harris has been arrested by police on suspicion of sex offences, it emerged yesterday.

The entertainer was held over historic allegations by officers from the inquiry set up following the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The 83-year-old, who once painted the Queen, was originally interviewed by Scotland Yard officers in November and his home was raided. He was later released without further action.

But in a sensational development on March 28, detectives from the Met’s Operation Yewtree — set up to investigate abuse allegations against Savile and others — arrested him.

Harris, who was made a CBE in the 2006 Queen’s birthday honours, is now among 11 suspects being investigated by police over historic sex offences.

Family and friends of the Australian-born entertainer yesterday rallied round to support him with many arriving at his home in Bray, Berkshire throughout the morning.

He declined to comment when approached by the Standard but his wife Alwen later added: “We don’t know what’s going on, we can’t talk”. His daughter Bindi, 49, said: “I’m really sorry but I can’t speak to you.”

Harris, who performed for the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee concert last year, was also appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last year.

Since he became a suspect, he has performed several gigs and appeared on TV. On Wednesday, more than a million people tuned in to watch Rolf’s Animal Clinic on Channel 5.

After his arrest in March, just days before his 83rd birthday, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: “An 82-year-old man from Berkshire was arrested by officers on Operation Yewtree on suspicion of sexual offences.

“He has been bailed to a date in May pending further inquiries.

“The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed ‘others’.”

There have been 12 Operation Yewtree arrests since October, including pop star Gary Glitter, TV presenters Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, and DJ Dave Lee Travis. They all deny the allegations.

Harris, an Australian native, has had a 40-year career on British television screens after moving to the UK in 1952 from Perth. He presented Animal Hospital for 10 years, Rolf’s Cartoon Club and Rolf’s Amazing World Of Animals.