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Jimmy Savile

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Sir James Wilson Vincent "Jimmy" Savile OBE, KCSG (31 October 1926 - 29 October 2011) was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC chart show Top of the Pops. He was also known for his philanthropy and support of various charities and fundraising efforts. He died aged 84 on 29 October 2011 after suffering from pneumonia.[1]

Sir Jimmy Savile
Savile in 2006
Born
James Wilson Vincent Savile

(1926-10-31)October 31, 1926
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
DiedOctober 29, 2011(2011-10-29) (aged 84)
Leeds
Cause of deathHeart failure
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)DJ, actor, television and radio personality
Known forJim'll Fix It, Top of the Pops

Early life

Savile was born in Leeds, the youngest of seven children, including Mary, Marjory, Vincent, John, Joan, and Christina Savile, born to Agnes Monica (Kelly) and Vincent Joseph Marie Savile, a bookmaker's clerk and insurance agent.[2] He was a Bevin Boy, conscripted during World War II to work as a coal miner. Having started playing records in dance halls in the early 1940s, Savile claimed to be the first ever DJ; according to his autobiography, the first person to use two turntables and a microphone, which he did at the Grand Records Ball at the Guardbridge Hotel in 1947.[3] Savile is widely acknowledged as being one of the first in England and the world to use twin turntables for continuous play of music, thus pioneering the concept of DJing as we know it today,[4] though this claim has been disputed: twin turntables were illustrated in the BBC Handbook in 1929, and were advertised for sale in Gramophone magazine as early as 1931.[5]

Savile later lived in Salford and worked as manager of the Plaza Ballroom in Oxford Road, Manchester in the mid-fifties. He lived in Great Clowes Street in Higher Broughton, Salford and was often seen sitting on his front door steps. He also managed the Mecca Locarno ballroom in Leeds around the late 1950s and early 1960s.[6] Mecca also owned the Palais, a dance hall in Ilford, Essex and Savile did a stint as manager there between 1955 and 1956. His Monday evening records-only dance sessions (admission one shilling) were a huge favourite with local teens.[7] Savile was a hospital porter at Broadmoor Hospital[8] and Leeds General Infirmary and became a semi-professional sportsman, competing in the 1951 Tour of Britain cycle race[9] and working as a professional wrestler. He said

"If you look at the athletics of it, I've done over 300 professional bike races, 212 marathons and 107 pro fights." He proudly announces that he lost 35 of his first 35 fights. "No wrestler wanted to go back home and say a long-haired disc jockey had put him down. So from start to finish I got a good hiding. I've broken every bone in my body. I loved it."[10]

Television career

In 1960 he presented Tyne Tees Television's music programme Young at Heart. Although the show was broadcast in black and white, Savile dyed his hair a different colour every week.[11]

File:Jimmy savile.jpg
Jimmy Savile presenting "Top of The Pops" in 1964.

On New Year's Day, 1964, he presented the first edition of British music chart television programme Top of the Pops from a television studio – a converted church – in Dickenson Road Rusholme, Manchester (now demolished). On 30 July 2006 he also co-hosted the final edition, ending the show with the words "It's number one, it's still Top of the Pops", before being shown turning off the studio lights after the closing credits. On 31 December 1969, Savile hosted the BBC/ZDF co-production Pop Go The Sixties, shown across Western Europe, celebrating the hits of the 1960s. He presented the television programme Jim'll Fix It from 1975 to 1994. During the early 1960s he co-hosted (with Pete Murray) New Musical Express Poll Winners' Concert, annually held at Empire Pool, Wembley, with acts such as The Beatles, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Joe Brown And the Bruvvers, The Who, and many others. These were filmed and recorded and later broadcast on television.

He is also remembered for fronting a long running series of advertisements in the early 1980s for British Rail's InterCity 125 (in which he declared "This is the age of the train") and a series of Public Information Films promoting road safety, notably "Clunk Click Every Trip" which was about wearing seatbelts, the clunk representing the sound of the door and the click the sound of the seatbelt fastening. This led to Savile's hosting his own Saturday night chat/variety show on BBC1 from 1973 entitled Clunk, Click, which in 1974 featured the UK heats for the Eurovision Song Contest featuring Olivia Newton-John. After two series, the show was replaced by Jim'll Fix It.

He was featured on This Is Your Life twice. His second appearance was a result of the production team's being unaware of his previous appearance. He was interviewed by Dr. Anthony Clare for the radio series In the psychiatrist's chair and also appeared in a Louis Theroux documentary.

Savile visited the Celebrity Big Brother house on 14 January and 15 January 2006. During these visits he "fixed it" for some of the housemates to receive their wish; for example, Pete Burns received a message from his significant other and friend while Dennis Rodman was able to trade Savile's offering for a supply of cigarettes for other housemates.

In 2007 Savile returned to television with Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again, in which he shows some of the most popular 'fixits' ever, recreating them with the same people, as well as making new dreams come true.[12]

Radio career

Savile started his radio career working as a Radio Luxembourg DJ from 1958 to 1967.

In 1968 he joined BBC Radio 1, where he initially presented Savile's Travels and the discussion show Speakeasy. His best-remembered contribution to Radio 1, however, is the Sunday lunchtime show Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club, where entire top tens from years gone by were played. This was the very first show to feature old charts. Over a period of time, you could hear every record that ever made the BBC Charts. It began in 1973 (initially called The Double Top Ten Show) and ended in 1987 as (The Triple Top Ten Show) at which point he left Radio 1 after 19 years. Although, he could be heard presenting (The Vintage Chart Show) on BBC World Service between March 1987 to October 1989 playing top tens from 1957–87.

From March 1989 to August 1997 he was heard on various stations around the UK (mostly taking the Gold format, such as the West Midlands' Xtra AM and the original Classic Gold network in Yorkshire) where he revived his Radio 1 shows.

In 1994, satirist Chris Morris gave a fake obituary on BBC Radio 1 (as a joke), saying that Savile had collapsed and died, which allegedly drew threats of legal action from Savile and forced an apology from Morris.

On 25 December 2005, and 1 January 2007, Savile presented shows on the Real Radio network. The Christmas 2005 show counted down the festive Top 10s of 10, 20 and 30 years previously, while the New Year 2007 show (also taken by Century Radio following its acquisition by GMG) featured Savile recounting anecdotes from his past and playing associated records, mostly from the 1960s although some were from the 1970s.

Catchphrases and appearance

Savile's catchphrases included "How's about that, then?", "Now then, now then, now then", "Goodness gracious", "as it happens" (pronounced "as it 'appens") and "Guys and gals". Savile was frequently spoofed for his distinctive appearance, which almost always consists of a track suit or shell suit, along with gold jewellery. A range of licensed fancy dress costumes were released with his consent in 2009. Savile was also very well known as a heavy cigar smoker, and often smoked them for the public eye.[13] He also has a bench in memory of himself with the words 'Jimmy Savile – but not just yet!' engraved on it, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.[14]

He was a member of Mensa.[15]

He was named as one of the Radio Times "Top 40 most eccentric TV presenters of all time" in July 2004. A bachelor, Savile lived with his mother (whom he referred to as "The Duchess") and kept her bedroom and wardrobe exactly as it was when she died. Every year he had her clothes dry cleaned.

Savile was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists[citation needed] and drove a Rolls-Royce[citation needed]; when he became successful he acquired a pink Rolls-Royce and at one time his personalised car registration plate was HIS 1.[citation needed]

In November 2007 Savile was mugged by a fan who made off with his glasses whilst in a Leeds hotel. According to Savile, he was walking down a corridor of the Queens Hotel at around midnight after attending a function at the hotel when he became aware of a woman walking beside him. He assumed the woman was going to hug him but she instead reached for his glasses before sprinting off down the corridor. He later said "I thought it was marvellous, it was just like old times!". Savile has promised his 'assailant' a box of chocolates for giving him a "'1960s thrill in 2007".[16]

He had a long association with the Fort William area of Scotland [citation needed] and ran part of the Ben Nevis Race course several times in his younger days.[citation needed] He had a house in Glen Coe for some years and lived there part of the time. He had been Honorary Chieftain of the Lochaber Highland Games for 35 years and most years [citation needed] led the pipe band through Fort William to the Games. [citation needed] He could not do the final Top of the Pops live because of his commitment to the Lochaber Highland Games so it was recorded in the previous week. [citation needed] He announced his retirement from the honorary post at the games on 29 July 2006 but said he would continue as a "Special Friend" of the games.[17]

Savile was interviewed by the BBC on 20 November 2008 when he was asked about the return of the programme Top of The Pops, revived for a Christmas comeback, to which he said he would welcome a "cameo role" on the programme. BBC interview

Honours

Charitable works

One of the United Kingdom's most recognisable personalities, aside from his TV and radio work, Savile carried out a considerable amount of charity work (although he never talked about it), including raising money for the Stoke Mandeville Hospital where he worked for many years as a volunteer porter. He raised money for the Spinal Unit, NSIC. (National Spinal Injuries Center). Savile raised money for St Francis Ward - a ward for children and teens with Spinal Cord Injuries. For years, he was the honorary president of Phab (a charity dedicated to the integration of the Physically Handicapped in the Able Bodied community) and has helped raise over £40,000,000.[21]

He also sponsored medical students at the University of Leeds to perform undergraduate research in the LURE, donating over £60,000 every year.[22] In 2010 the scheme was extended with a commitment of £500,000 over the following five years.[23]

Savile was also well known for running marathons (many of them again for Phab, including their annual half marathon around Hyde Park). He completed the London Marathon in 2005, at the age of 79.

Death

Savile died at his home in Leeds on 29 October 2011.[24]

Works

Books
  • Jimmy Savile, As it happens, ISBN 0-214-20056-6, Barrie & Jenkins 1974 (autobiography)
  • Jimmy Savile, Love is an Uphill Thing, ISBN 0-340-19925-3, Coronet 1976 (softback edition of As it Happens)
  • Jimmy Savile, God'll Fix It, ISBN 0-264-66457-4, Mowbray, Oxford 1979
Recordings

References

  1. ^ http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16099015
  2. ^ Barratt, Nick (17 March 2007). "Family detective: Jimmy Savile – Telegraph". London: www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  3. ^ Miller, Harland (27 April 2004). "Harland Miller on Jimmy Savile: inventor of hip-hop style". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  4. ^ Brewster, Bill. "DJ Awards-History". www.djawards.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Donovan, Paul (1991). The Radio Companion. London: HarperCollins. p. 198. ISBN 0246136480. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Jimmy Savile". DJHistory.com. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Ilford Recorder Ilford Palais". Ilfordrecorder.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  8. ^ Smith, Graham. "Jim's Fix has been to". Retired Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Tour of Britain's long ride for respect". 4 May 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  10. ^ "In bed with Jimmy". The Guardian. London. 11 April 2000. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Sixties Pop and Music Television 1960–64". Sixties City. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  12. ^ Oatts, Joanne (26 October 2006). "UKTV brings back 'Jim'll Fix It'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  13. ^ "'Ow's about that, then?". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Jimmy Savile's famous bench in Scarborough". Scarborough In Pictures. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Meeting of Mensa minds in Wales". news.bbc.co.uk. 17 June 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  16. ^ "Sir Jimmy robbed of his glasses". BBC News Online. BBC. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  17. ^ "Sir Jimmy retires from Highland Games". Thisisnorthscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  18. ^ "No. 45554". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 31 December 1971.
  19. ^ "Runners for Charlotte take on 30-mile Marine challenge". The Guernsey Press. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  20. ^ "No. 52173". The London Gazette. 15 June 1990.
  21. ^ 'Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends: "When Louie met Jimmy"', BBC documentary, 13 April 2000
  22. ^ "Jimmy Savile gives young medics a helping hand - University of Leeds". www.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  23. ^ "Sir Jimmy's £500,000 for Leeds trainee doctors - Yorkshire Evening Post". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  24. ^ http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16099015
  25. ^ "Sounds Of The 60s". www.soundsofthe60s.com. Retrieved 28 July 2008.
  26. ^ "Brian Poole Interview". Rock N' Roll Britain. Retrieved 28 July 2008.

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