Rolf Harris in court ahead of trial

Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris has appeared in a London court for a directions hearing ahead of his second trial on charges of indecently assaulting women and girls.

The 86-year-old appeared in Southwark Crown Court on Friday by videolink from Stafford Prison where he is serving nearly six years for similar offences following his first trial in 2014.

At a hearing in April Harris pleaded not guilty to seven charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault, relating to seven female complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time of the alleged offences between 1971 and 2004.

The court heard on Friday that the defence could call some witnesses living in Australia, requiring a satellite link to be arranged so their evidence could be heard at the four-week trial starting on January 9.

Sitting at a table and wearing a grey suit and colourful tie, Harris interrupted at least twice during the proceedings to say he had difficulty hearing because of the "fierce background noise" of the court typist.

Judge Alistair McCreath said he and the participating lawyers would endeavour to speak louder.

The judge set a further pre-trial hearing for December 15.