Stuart Hall is to go on trial next year accused of raping two young girls.
Veteran broadcaster Hall, 83, appeared at Preston Crown Court for a five-minute hearing where a trial, estimated to last around nine days, was fixed for May 6 before Mr Justice Turner, at the same court.
Hall, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and striped tie, spoke only to confirm his name and sat in the dock hands in his lap, flanked by a prison officer, for the brief preliminary hearing.
The presenter and commentator, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire is accused of sexual offences against two alleged victims aged between 11 or 12 and 16 at the time.
He was remanded into custody to appear at a plea and case management hearing ahead of the trial, on February 28.
Hall is alleged to have committed seven counts of rape against one girl between 1976 and 1978 in Manchester, when she was aged between 14 and 16.
He is also accused of eight counts of rape and one count of indecent assault against his second alleged victim, aged between 11 or 12 and 15 at the time, between 1976 and 1981, at various locations in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
He was a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and his eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Date set for Stuart Hall rape trial
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