Channel 5 have agreed to remove a tribute to disgraced Mohamed Al Fayed after being slammed as “utterly tone deaf” for repeating it.

Bosses failed to edit out the praise from a 2019 documentary called Harrods at Christmas, which was re-shown on Friday night. TV producer Keaton Stone, whose wife Sophia was attacked by Al Fayed while working as his personal assistant at the luxury store, said: “Pretty appalling scheduling. [I] Cannot fathom how this was deemed remotely appropriate to be broadcast at the current time.”

Mr Stone, who exposed Al Fayed’s crimes in a BBC documentary, which was screened due to his own investigative work, called the broadcast “utterly tone deaf” and added: “I know for a fact it has caused distress amongst many of the brave Harrods survivors.”

Rav Wilding smiled as he paid tribute to his former boss (

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Michael Cole also spoke about ex-boss Al Fayed (

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The show included a clip of TV host Rav Wilding, who was once employed a security guard at the shop, saying: “Mohamed Al Fayed was known as The Chairman. He was the boss, he was in charge, and he was great to work for.”

The programme showed clips of Al Fayed meeting adoring members of the public alongside Santa and being interviewed about his good work. Al Fayed’s former PR man Michael Cole was also seen being interviewed in the programme talking about how Al Fayed started Harrods famous Christmas parade.

And it paid tribute to Al Fayed’s business acumen, claiming he breathed new life into the store, including by inventing the parade and a new Harrods Christmas bear. Al Fayed, who died last year, aged 94, is accused of sex attacks on at least 111 victims, including former staff.

Police are investigating complaints from 111 alleged victims of Al Fayed (

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Al Fayed has also been accused of corruption, including of police officers and his own managers, in order to cover up his alleged crimes (

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Viewers were aghast at the scheduling of the 60-minute documentary. On X, previously known as Twitter, David Calvert wrote: “Al Fayed ‘was absolutely great to work for’. "Seriously Channel 5, don’t you have any thought for the women he raped and abused? An absolutely appalling decision to air this programme about Harrods.”

Richard Chadwick wrote: “Channel 5 clearly not reading the room and broadcasting a celebration of Harrods with Al Fayed featured.” Brian O’Keefe added: “Who’s bright idea was it to put on Inside Harrods at Christmas singing the praises of Al-Fayed?”.

Harrods have apologised to victims of former owner Al Fayed, who sold the store for £1.5billion in 2010 (

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The TV show’s screening came after it was revealed earlier this week that police are probing more than five of Al Fayed’s associates for allegedly helping to enable his sex attacks. Police say 90 new alleged victims of Al Fayed have come forward since a BBC TV show, Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, exposed his depravity, was screened in September, with the total at 111.

Met chiefs say they approached the CPS about him five times from 2005 to 2023. Files for a charging decision went to the CPS in 2008, over three victims, and again in 2015, linked to another. Al Fayed was arrested in 2013 over a rape claim, but no charges were brought. A separate Met Police review is also being carried out into claims some officers were bribed to keep Al Fayed from justice.

Wilding today said he had not been informed the Channel 5 programme was set to be repeated and sought to distance himself from it, saying it should never air again. In a statement issued on Saturday, which did not identify Al-Fayed by name, Rav, 47, said: “I worked at Harrods on the security team for six months in 1999.

“I never witnessed any of the abhorrent behaviour nor was I aware of any allegations of sexual abuse or offences until the recent BBC documentary and allegations came to light. I am pleased that the matter is being investigated by the police and I had no idea, nor was I notified that this old documentary would be repeated last night. It should not be shown or be available to view ever again.”

A Channel 5 spokesperson said: “This episode is a repeat and was played out in error. It will not be repeated further or appear on My5. We apologise for any offence caused.”