Jimmy Savile was questioned by detectives investigating the Yorkshire Ripper murder, West Yorkshire Police confirmed on Wednesday.
A senior officer who worked on the inquiry revealed the disgraced DJ was a suspect in the notorious case more than 30 years ago on Tuesday.
John Stainthorpe, a former detective with West Yorkshire Police, said the Leeds-born presenter was approached after an anonymous tip-off.
Mr Stainthorpe, who spent 40 years in the force, told ITV’s Calendar News: “When the Ripper was really active, one of the suspects put forward by the public was, in fact, Jimmy Savile.
“Obviously, it was not he, but he was interviewed along with many others.”
He said the person who reported Savile was “aiming in the right direction”.
“Child perverts soon become child killers,” he added.
The police force confirmed Savile may have been questioned, but did not reveal when he was interviewed or why.
A spokesman said: “As with thousands of other men in Leeds at the time, he may at some time have been approached by detectives on the investigation.
“What is without doubt is that Savile was clearly not the Yorkshire Ripper.”
Peter Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women in 1981 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is held at Broadmoor and has been told he will never be freed.
Sutcliffe has jumped to the defence of Savile, who he says befriended him during regular visits to the high security hospital.
Dismissing claims the late DJ abused around 300 victims over six decades, he said those making allegations were “jumping on the bandwagon”.
Savile, who died a year ago aged 84, is now believed to be one of the UK’s most prolific child abusers.
It comes after he was linked to fresh allegations of abuse at a care home in north Wales.
The Sun newspaper claimed boys were molested for his “entertainment” at Bryn Estyn in the 1970s.
Lawyers representing the disgraced DJ’s alleged victims have said they have notified his estate executors, the BBC and three hospitals that they plan to launch damage claims against them.
The former presenter’s £4m estate has already been frozen by executors NatWest.
Sky News