A number of defence witnesses have told Rolf Harris's indecent assault trial in London that he was a "warm, tactile man" who liked to hug people, but who never acted inappropriately.
The entertainer is charged with 12 counts of indecently assaulting four girls and young women between 1968 and 1986. The 84 year old denies all charges.
Friends, neighbours and former colleagues described to the court how Harris would greet people with a big bear hug, but they said there was nothing sexual or untoward about the contact.
Joanne Charles, a close family friend of Harris, said she had known his family all her life and had never seen him act in an inappropriate way.
Her father and Harris ran a club in Malta together in the 1970s and she would visit the Harris family back in England for weeks at a time.
She said the entertainer would give her big bear hugs and tell her that she had lovely curves but she would never find it at all offensive.
The defence witness told the court the approaches were not lewd but warm and friendly.
She said Harris had never touched her inappropriately and she had never seen him acting inappropriately towards anyone else.
"He's lovely. He's gentle and kind and a real softie," Ms Charles told Southwark Crown Court.
"He's very, very tactile. He's a great hugger - he'd give big bear hugs. A lovely, lovely man."
Ms Charles, being questioned by defence lawyer Sonia Woodley QC, said the hugs were "absolutely not" sexual.
She was then asked if she would describe the bear hugs as "groping".
"No", she replied, adding Harris had "never" touched her breasts or bottom.
Ms Charles said Harris would even "throw his arms around guys to welcome them".
When she was older he remained "cuddly, warm and tactile", she said.