Jimmy Tarbuck says being arrested on historic sex abuse claims showed him who his true friends were.
The 75-year-old comedian and TV presenter has had the case against him dropped after almost a year of uncertainty but admitted it took an emotional toll and he was disappointed that many of his so-called friends dropped him.
Speaking on ITV’s ‘Loose Women’, he said: "You find out who your friends are, your real mates. People say, ‘I meant to write to you’, ‘Well why didn’t you?’ And those who did write, you go, ‘Spot on.’
"My wife Pauline is just a rock, total rock and the three kids."
Jimmy’s friend Sir Cliff Richard is at the centre of a similar investigation, although one of three charges against him has reportedly been dropped, and Jimmy says he is equally distraught.
He explained: "I was with Cliff [Richard] the other day… He’s a really decent man him and the shadow he’s been put under, it’s the same thing."
Jimmy also called for his accusers to be named and said that he would be happy to face them as he has nothing to hide.
He said: "It’s unbelievable. You get a knock on the door, I was in my dressing gown making a cup of tea … and 14 policemen came in my house, 14. I thought it’s ‘Surprise Surprise’. And the real thing that annoys me about it all is these people can remain anonymous. Now I don’t mind people saying he did this, he did that, I’ll face them face to face."
Revealing how he coped during his ordeal, Jimmy said: "Golf kept me sane because of the mates up at the golf club, playing golf and going to the football and I got it from the crowds, unbelievable receptions, and then Bradley Walsh invited me on ‘Sunday Night at the Palladium’ again and I said, ‘OK’ and the reception I got from the audience, I just couldn’t move so that part restored my human faith."
Jimmy Tarbuck lost friends over false abuse claims
