Jimmy Savile

Infobox Person
name = Sir Jimmy Savile

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birth_name = James Wilson Vincent Savile
birth_date = birth date and age|1926|10|31
birth_place = Leeds, Yorkshire, England
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nationality = British
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known_for = "Jim'll Fix It, Top of the Pops"
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occupation = DJ, actor, television and radio personality
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Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile OBE, KCSG (born 31 October 1926), commonly known as Jimmy Savile (often misspelled 'Saville'), is an English DJ, actor and television/ radio personality. He is best known for his BBC television show "Jim'll Fix It", in which he made the wishes of members of the public (mainly children) come true, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC chart show "Top of the Pops". He is also noted for his support of various charities and fundraising efforts.

Early life

Savile was born in Leeds, where he still lives (in an apartment overlooking Roundhay Park), one of 7 children born to Agnes Monica (Kelly) and Vincent Joseph Marie Savile, a bookmakers clerk and insurance agent. [cite web
url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/03/17/nosplit/ftwdet17.xml
title=Family detective: Jimmy Savile - Telegraph |publisher=www.telegraph.co.uk |accessdate=2008-07-28 ] He was a Bevin Boy, drafted during World War II to work as a coal miner. Having started playing records in dance halls in the early 40s, Savile was effectively 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. [cite web
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2004/apr/20/guesteditors2 |title=Harland Miller on Jimmy Savile: inventor of hip-hop style - Culture - The Guardian |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2008-07-28 |last=Miller |first=Harland ] Indeed, Savile is widely acknowledged as being one of the first in England to use twin turntables for continuous play of music, thus pioneering the concept of DJing as we know it today. [cite web |url=http://www.djawards.com/en/history.php |title=DJ Awards - History |publisher=www.djawards.com |accessdate=2008-07-28 |last=Brewster |first=Bill |coauthor=Frank Browghton]

Jimmy later lived in Salford and worked as manager of the Plaza Ballroom on Oxford Road, Manchester in the mid fifties. He lived on Great Clowes Street in Higher Broughton, Salford and was often seen sat on his front door steps. Savile was a hospital porter at Broadmoor Hospital and became a semi-professional sportsman, competing in the 1951 Tour of Britain cycle race and working as a professional wrestler.He also managed the Mecca Locarno ballroom in Leeds around the late 50s and early 60s, prior to becoming a household name. He was the firstFact|date=July 2008 to play popular rock-n-roll records during the dance bands' interval for the younger dancers. Mecca also owned the Palais, a dance hall in Ilford, Essex and Jimmy also did a stint as manager there between 1952 and 1953. His Monday evening records-only dance sessions (admission one shilling) were a huge favourite with local teens.Fact|date=July 2008

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. [cite web |title=Sixties Pop and Music Television 1960-64 |work=Sixties City |url=http://www.sixtiescity.com/PopTV/PopTV6064.shtm |accessdate=2007-09-17]

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 Rusholme, Manchester. On July 30 2006 he also co-hosted the final edition, ending the show with the words "It's still number one, it's "Top of the Pops", before being shown turning off the studio lights after the closing credits. He presented the television programme "Jim'll Fix It" from 1975 to 1994.

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 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 being unaware of his previous appearance. He also appeared in a very memorable Louis Theroux documentary, which exposed what a strange and eccentric character he is in real life.

Savile visited the "Celebrity Big Brother" house on January 14 and January 15 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.

Savile has recently 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.

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. The format was similar to Alan Freeman's "Pick of the Pops" show. It began in 1973 (initially called "The Double Top Ten Show") and ended in 1987, at which point he left Radio 1 after 19 years.

From 1989 to 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 announced on BBC Radio 1 (as a joke) that Savile had collapsed and died, which allegedly drew threats of legal action from Savile and forced an apology from Morris.

On December 25, 2005, and January 1, 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 include "How's about that, then?", "Now then, now then, now then", "Goodness gracious", "as it happens" (pronounced "as it 'appens") and "Guys and gals". He is also fond of the archaism "howsomever". Savile has frequently been spoofed for his distinctive appearance, which almost always consists of a track suit or shell suit, along with gold jewellery.

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. [cite web
url = http://www.scarborough-in-pictures.co.uk/JimmySavile.htm
title = Jimmy Savile's famous bench in Scarborough
publisher = Scarborough In Pictures
accessdate = 2008-07-28]

He is a member of Mensa. [cite web |url=http://www.lycos.co.uk/celebrity/clevercelebs.html
title=Lycos Clever Celebs - Lycos Celebrity - The cleverest celebrities uncovered
publisher=www.lycos.co.uk |accessdate=2008-07-28]

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 refers to as "The Duchess") until her death, and has kept her bedroom and wardrobe exactly as it was when she died. Every year he has her clothes dry cleaned.

Savile is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and drives a Rolls Royce; when he became successful he acquired a pink Rolls-Royce and at one time his personalised car registration plate was "HIS 1".Fact|date=July 2008

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 "50s thrill in 2007". [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7097061.stm
title=BBC NEWS - England - West Yorkshire - Sir Jimmy robbed of his glasses |publisher=news.bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2008-07-28]

He has a long association with the Fort William area of Scotland and ran part of the [http://www.bennevisrace.co.uk/index.html Ben Nevis Race] course several times in his younger days. He has had a house in Glen Coe for some years and lives there part of the time. He has been Honorary Chieftain of the [http://www.lochaber.com/highlandgames/lochaber.htm Lochaber Highland Games] for 35 years and most years led the pipe band through Fort William to the Games. 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. He announced his retirement from the honorary post at the games on 29 July 2006 but said he will continue as a "Special Friend" of the games. [http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=15028090&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch]

Honours

* In 1971 he was awarded the OBE, which he always subsequently appended to his signature.
* In 1990 he was knighted for his services in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. The same year he was honoured with a papal knighthood from the Vatican making him a Knight Commander of Saint Gregory the Great (KCSG).
* He holds an honorary doctorate of law (LLD) from Leeds University.
* He is an Honorary fellow of the Royal College of Radiology (FRCR).
* He is a Knight of Malta and an Esteemed Friend of Israel.
* He is a Freeman, of the Borough of Scarborough
* Honorary Royal Marine Commando

Charitable works

One of the United Kingdom's most recognisable personalities, aside from his TV and radio work Jimmy has carried out a considerable amount of charity work, including raising money for the Stoke Mandeville Hospital where he worked for many years as a volunteer porter. For years, he was the honorary president of Phab and has "helped raise" over £40,000,000. [Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends: When Louie met Jimmy BBC documentary, 13th April 2000]

Savile is 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.

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

*1962 : "Ahab the Arab" with Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. [cite web |url=http://www.soundsofthe60s.com/html/artistes/poolebrian.htm|title=Sounds Of The 60s|publisher=www.soundsofthe60s.com |accessdate=2008-07-28] [cite web
url=http://www.rocknrollbritain.com/Brian%20Poole%20Interview.htm |title=Brian Poole Interview |publisher=www.rocknrollbritain.com |accessdate=2008-07-28]

References

External links

* [http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/jimmy_saville_page.htm Radio Rewind Biography]
*imdb|name=Jimmy Savile|id=0767675
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4669540.stm BBC article about the "Clunk Click Every Trip" safety belt advert featuring Jimmy Savile, including video of the advert]
* [http://www.paulplu.demon.co.uk/whos_who/luxembourg.htm Entry on Radio Luxembourg DJ page]