Jimmy Savile, also known as Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, was a well-known English DJ, radio and television personality, and fundraiser. One of the biggest talents in Britain, Jimmy began his career spinning records before managing dance clubs and eventually working as a DJ on radio and television. After he began hosting the “BBC” program “Jim’ll Fix It,” which aired for more than 15 years, he gained notoriety. Jimmy set up mechanisms to realize the aspirations of common people, particularly youngsters, on the show. That amply demonstrated his passion for others. He was a philanthropist who participated in numerous charity events and fundraisers for which he was later given the “OBE” in 1971. In 1990, he received a knighthood for his efforts to improve people’s lives. He was commended for his fundraising efforts at the time of his death, but hundreds of sexual abuse claims were brought against him following his passing. The police looked into the claims and labeled him a “predatory sex offender,” accusing him of abusing more than 500 persons between 1955 and 2009, the majority of them children and young females.
Early Childhood & Life
Wilson, James Vincent Joseph Mary Savile, and Agnes Monica Kelly gave birth to him on October 31, 1926, in Leeds, England. His father worked as a bookmaker’s clerk and an insurance agent. The youngest of seven kids, he was young.
During “World War II,” Jimmy worked as a Bevin boy at South Kirkby Colliery in West Yorkshire. After a mine explosion caused spinal damage, he was obliged to hunt for another profession.
Earlier Years of Jimmy Savile
He began spinning music at dance clubs and then worked as a DJ. After that, he held a managerial position at Manchester’s “Plaza Ballroom” on Oxford Road. He oversaw the “Mecca Locarno Ball Room” and the “Palais Dance Hall” in the late 1950s.
He participated in the 1951 “Tour of Britain” cycle race and tried his hand at professional wrestling.
Career in Radio
Jimmy was given the chance to work as a DJ at “Radio Luxembourg” in 1958, where he started hosting a program called “Teen and Twenty Disc Club.” He hosted a program named “Savile’s Travels” for “Radio 1” after the show ended in 1967.
Jimmy also hosted a program called “Jimmy Savile’s Old Radio Club” while working for “Radio 1,” which was the first program to play classical music. Jimmy left “Radio 1” after 19 years of service to join “The Vintage Chart Show” on the “BBC.”
He also resumed hosting his “Radio 1” broadcasts, which he had done from 1989 and 1997. He joined “Real Radio” in 2005 and has since hosted several shows for the network, including “The Christmas 2005 Show” and “The New Year’s 2007 Show.”
Career in Television
His first television position was as a host of the music program “Young at Heart” (1960). The inspiration for Jimmy’s weekly hair dyeing of various colors came from this episode.
He hosted “Top of the Pops,” a popular music program that premiered on “BBC” in 1964. He co-hosted the televised version of the “New Musical Express” Poll Winner’s Concert at about the same time, which featured performances by musicians like “The Beatles,” “Cliff Richard,” “Joe Brown,” and “The Shadows.”
He also hosted the show “Clunk Click Every Trip,” which advocated driving safety. It was broadcast as part of a collection of “public information films.”
Clunk Click Every Trip was superseded by Jim’l Fix It, his breakthrough program, in 1975. He became a well-known figure in the television industry because the show continued until 1994.
He made an appearance on “Is This Your Life?” in 1995, where Andrew Neil conducted an interview with him. He had an appearance on the panel of the program “Have I Got News for You” in 1999.
Jimmy was the focus of the series because of Louis Theroux’s documentary, “When Louis met Jimmy.” In April 2000, the documentary was made public. Around this period, he was accused of being a child molester, although Jimmy denied these claims.
He made a comeback to television in 2007 with “Jim’ll Strikes Again.” He remade the show with the goal of realizing more aspirations.
Various Works of Jimmy Savile
Jimmy spent many years volunteering at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. He participated in numerous fundraisers for the “Spinal Unit” and the “St. Francis Ward” during this association.
Additionally, he volunteered at “Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor Hospital,” and as a result of his commitment to the hospital, he was requested to handle its administration as well. Even in the hospitals, he had his own room.
According to reports, Savile raised £40 million for charities and welfare. He even funded a scholarship program for Leeds University undergraduate medical students.
In addition, he founded two charitable organizations: the “Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust” in 1981 and the “Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust” in Leeds in 1984.
Recognition & Achievements
In 1972, Jimmy received the honorary title of “Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” (OBE). He was recognized as the “Knight Bachelor” in 1990 at the “Queen’s Birthday Honours” for his charitable work and fundraising efforts.
In 1990, Pope John Paul II conferred on him the title of “Knight Commander of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great.” Additionally, he received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Leeds (1986) and Bedfordshire (2009), which were both canceled in 2012.
On August 1st, 1974, his autobiography “As It Happens” was published.
Individual Life of Jimmy Savile
Jimmy never wed, although he acknowledged having a lot of sex with women throughout his life. As strange as it may sound, he took care of his mother’s room and possessions even after she passed away because he shared a home with her.
He was discovered dead at his Leeds home on October 29, 2011, just a few days after being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Before departing this world, he had arranged for his burial.
More than 4,000 individuals showed up for his funeral. Jimmy was accused of sexually assaulting numerous boys and girls in hospitals and around the BBC’s facilities in a documentary that was released by “ITV” in 2012.
According to extensive investigations, Jimmy was a serial sexual offender who had abused more than 500 people, the majority of them were young girls. Numerous victims alleged that Jimmy sexually assaulted and raped them in changing rooms, hospitals, schools, and children’s wards.
His abusive behavior started around 1940 and persisted till 2009. From 8-year-old boys and girls to even 75-year-olds, he assaulted people of all ages.
As soon as he was identified by the authorities as a sexual offender, many of his honors and distinctions were revoked.
Jimmy Savile Net Worth
At the time of his passing in 2011, Sir Jimmy Savile OBE KCSG, an English DJ, television host, media figure, and charity fundraiser, had a net worth of $10 million. As the host of BBC programs like “Jim’ll Fix It” (1975–1994) and “Top of The Pops,” Savile established himself (1964–1984). Jimmy wrote the novels “As it Happens” (1974) and “God’ll Fix It,” as well as the song “Ahab the Arab” in 1962. (1979).