History of Jimmy Savile in Timeline

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Jimmy Savile

Jimmy Savile was a British media personality and DJ, famous for hosting Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It, and known for his charitable work. Posthumously, hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse surfaced, revealing him as a predatory sex offender. These accusations, involving both children and the elderly, shattered his public image. Despite some allegations during his lifetime, they were largely ignored, allowing Savile to continue his abuse for decades.

October 1926: Birth of Jimmy Savile

In October 1926, James Wilson Vincent Savile was born. He later became a media personality and DJ.

1929: Twin turntables illustrated in the BBC Handbook

In 1929, twin turntables were illustrated in the BBC Handbook, disproving Savile's claim to be the first to use two turntables.

1931: Twin turntables were advertised for sale in Gramophone magazine

In 1931, twin turntables were advertised for sale in Gramophone magazine, disproving Savile's claim to be the first to use two turntables.

1947: Grand Records Ball

In 1947, Jimmy Savile claimed to be the first to use two turntables and a microphone at the Grand Records Ball at the Guardbridge Hotel.

1951: Tour of Britain Cycle Race

In 1951, Jimmy Savile competed in the Tour of Britain cycle race and worked as a professional wrestler.

1953: Death of Vincent Joseph Savile

In 1953, Vincent Joseph Savile, Jimmy Savile's father, died. He was a bookmaker's clerk and insurance agent.

1955: Management of Mecca-owned Palais dance hall in Ilford

Between 1955 and 1956, Jimmy Savile managed the Mecca-owned Palais dance hall in Ilford, Essex.

1955: Complaints of Savile's abuse date back to 1955

In January 2013, a joint report stated that complaints against Jimmy Savile spanned from 1955 to 2009.

1956: Management of Mecca-owned Palais dance hall in Ilford

Between 1955 and 1956, Jimmy Savile managed the Mecca-owned Palais dance hall in Ilford, Essex.

1957: Beginnings of The Vintage Chart Show

Jimmy Savile presented The Vintage Chart Show, playing top tens from 1957 to 1987, on the BBC World Service.

1958: Radio Luxembourg DJ

From 1958 to 1968, Jimmy Savile worked as a DJ at Radio Luxembourg.

1958: Disc Jockey at Radio Luxembourg

In 1958, Jimmy Savile's media career began as a disc jockey at Radio Luxembourg.

1958: First Police Investigation

In 1958, the earliest known police investigation considered reports about Jimmy Savile, but did not lead to charges due to insufficient evidence related to sexual offences.

May 1960: Young at Heart

In May 1960, Jimmy Savile's first television role was as a presenter of Tyne Tees Television's music programme Young at Heart.

1960: Tyne Tees Television

In 1960, Jimmy Savile began working at Tyne Tees Television.

1963: Sporadic Allegations of Child Abuse

From 1963, sporadic allegations of child abuse were made against Jimmy Savile, though these only became widely publicized after his death.

1964: Regular Presenter on Top of the Pops

From 1964, Jimmy Savile was a regular presenter on the BBC music show Top of the Pops.

1964: Top of the Pops Presentation

In 1964, Jimmy Savile began presenting Top of the Pops, a show aimed at a teenage audience, which he continued for 20 years.

1964: First Edition of Top of the Pops

On New Year's Day 1964, Jimmy Savile presented the first edition of the BBC music chart television programme Top of the Pops.

1968: Radio 1 Host

In 1968, Jimmy Savile began hosting his own radio shows for Radio 1, broadcasting until 1987.

December 1969: Hosting Pop Go the Sixties

On 31 December 1969, Jimmy Savile hosted the BBC/ZDF co-production Pop Go the Sixties, shown across Western Europe.

1969: Speakeasy on Radio 1

From 1969 to 1973, Jimmy Savile fronted Speakeasy, a discussion programme for teenagers on Radio 1.

January 1970: This Is Your Life

In January 1970, Jimmy Savile was the subject of the Thames Television series This Is Your Life with Eamonn Andrews.

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1971: Adrian Street has wrestling bout with Savile

In 1971, Adrian Street, a professional wrestler, had a wrestling bout with Jimmy Savile. Street commented that had he known then what he knows now about Savile, he'd have given him an even bigger hiding.

1971: Awarded OBE

In 1971, Jimmy Savile was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire).

1972: Death of Agnes Monica Kelly

In 1972, Agnes Monica Kelly, Jimmy Savile's mother, died.

1973: Clunk, Click

From 1973, Jimmy Savile's Saturday-night chat/variety show Clunk, Click aired on BBC One.

1973: Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club

In 1973, Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club began on Radio 1, featuring old charts and a "points system" quiz.

1974: Eurovision Song Contest

In 1974, Clunk, Click featured the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest featuring Olivia Newton-John.

1974: Honorary President of Phab

In 1974, Jimmy Savile became the honorary president of Phab (Physically Handicapped in the Able Bodied community), a role he held until 1988.

1974: Publication of 'As it Happens'

In 1974, Jimmy Savile's autobiography "As it Happens" was published, containing admissions of improper sexual conduct which appeared to have passed unnoticed during his lifetime.

As it happens, Jimmy Savile, O.B.E: His autobiography
As it happens, Jimmy Savile, O.B.E: His autobiography

1975: Start of Jim'll Fix It

From 1975 to 1994, Jimmy Savile presented Jim'll Fix It.

1975: Life Member of British Gypsy Council

In 1975, Jimmy Savile was made a life member of the British Gypsy Council, becoming the first "outsider" to be made a member.

1976: Reprint of 'As it Happens' as 'Love is an Uphill Thing'

In 1976, Jimmy Savile's autobiography "As it Happens" was reprinted as "Love is an Uphill Thing".

Love Is an Uphill Thing (Coronet Books)
Love Is an Uphill Thing (Coronet Books)

1977: Award from Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association

In 1977, Jimmy Savile won an award from Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association for his "wholesome family entertainment".

October 1978: John Lydon's Interview

In an October 1978 interview recorded for BBC Radio 1, John Lydon alluded to sordid conduct by Jimmy Savile and its suppression. The comments were edited out by the BBC prior to broadcasting.

1981: Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust

In 1981, Jimmy Savile set up the Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust.

1981: Margaret Thatcher Praises Savile's Work

In 1981, Margaret Thatcher described Jimmy Savile's charitable work as "marvellous."

1984: Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust

In 1984, Jimmy Savile established the Leeds-based Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust.

1984: Member of the Athenaeum

In 1984, Jimmy Savile was accepted as a member of the Athenaeum, a gentlemen's club in London's Pall Mall, after being proposed by Cardinal Basil Hume.

March 1987: The Vintage Chart Show

From March 1987 until October 1989, Jimmy Savile presented The Vintage Chart Show on the BBC World Service.

1987: End of Radio 1 Shows

In 1987, Jimmy Savile's broadcasting on Radio 1 concluded after 19 years.

1987: Jerry Sadowitz's Performance

In 1987, Scottish stand-up comedian Jerry Sadowitz recorded a performance in Edinburgh in which he stated that Jimmy Savile was a paedophile. The album, Gobshite, was withdrawn amid fears of legal action.

January 1988: News of the World Article

In January 1988, the News of the World published an article suggesting Jimmy Savile had been in a position to secure the release of "dangerous" patients from Broadmoor Hospital.

August 1988: Appointment to Broadmoor Task Force

In August 1988, Jimmy Savile was appointed by junior health minister Edwina Currie as chair of an interim task force overseeing the management of Broadmoor Hospital, following the suspension of its board members.

1988: Departure from Top of the Pops

In 1988, Jimmy Savile's tenure as a regular presenter on the BBC music show Top of the Pops concluded. He later co-presented the last edition in 2006.

1988: End of Phab Presidency

In 1988, Jimmy Savile's tenure as the honorary president of Phab (Physically Handicapped in the Able Bodied community) concluded, having held the role since 1974.

March 1989: Broadcast on various stations around the UK

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

July 1989: Savile Wins Libel Case

On July 11, 1989, Jimmy Savile won his legal proceedings against News Group Newspapers, after the News of the World published an article in January 1988. News Group paid his legal costs, and he received an apology from editors Kelvin MacKenzie and Patsy Chapman.

October 1989: End of The Vintage Chart Show

Jimmy Savile's presentation of 'The Vintage Chart Show' on the BBC World Service ended in October 1989.

1989: Guidelines to Prince Charles

In 1989, Jimmy Savile hand-wrote an unofficial set of guidelines to Prince Charles on how members of the royal family and staff may respond to disasters. Charles shared the dossier with Prince Philip, who passed it on to Queen Elizabeth II.

December 1990: This Is Your Life

In December 1990, Jimmy Savile was the subject of the Thames Television series This Is Your Life with Michael Aspel.

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1990: Knighthood

In 1990, Jimmy Savile was knighted.

1990: Interview with Lynn Barber

In a 1990 interview for The Independent on Sunday, Lynn Barber asked Jimmy Savile about rumours that he liked "little girls", to which Savile responded that it was because he knew famous people.

1991: In the Psychiatrist's Chair

In 1991, Jimmy Savile appeared on 'In the Psychiatrist's Chair', where he appeared to be "a man without feelings."

1992: Clare's conclusion about Jimmy Savile

In 1992, Anthony Clare concluded in his introduction to the published transcript of his 1991 interview with Jimmy Savile that "There is something chilling about this 20th-century 'saint'".

1994: End of Jim'll Fix It

From 1975 to 1994, Jimmy Savile presented Jim'll Fix It.

1994: Fake obituary on BBC Radio 1

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

1995: Is This Your Life?

In 1995, Andrew Neil interviewed Jimmy Savile for the TV series Is This Your Life?, where Savile "used a banana to avoid discussing his personal life".

August 1997: Broadcast on various stations around the UK

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

August 1997: Heart-Bypass Operation

On 9 August 1997, Jimmy Savile underwent a three-hour quadruple heart-bypass operation at Killingbeck Hospital in Killingbeck, Leeds. He also arranged for a bench in Scarborough, North Yorkshire to be dedicated to his memory.

1998: Anonymous letter received by Honours Committee

In 1998, the Honours Committee received an anonymous letter stating that "reports of a paedophilia nature" could emerge about Jimmy Savile.

1999: Panelist on Have I Got News for You

In 1999, Jimmy Savile appeared as a panellist on Have I Got News for You.

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1999: Prince Charles Visits Savile

In 1999, Prince Charles visited Jimmy Savile's Glen Coe home for a private meal and reportedly sent him gifts on his 80th birthday, along with a thank you note.

April 2000: When Louis Met... Jimmy

In April 2000, Jimmy Savile was the subject of a documentary by Louis Theroux in the 'When Louis Met...' series, where he confided about beating people up and rumours of paedophilia. He said that it was easier for him to say he didn't like children, because that put a lot of salacious tabloid people off the hunt.

April 2000: Louis Theroux Documentary

In April 2000, in a documentary by Louis Theroux, When Louis Met... Jimmy, Jimmy Savile acknowledged rumours about whether he was a paedophile and denied them.

December 2005: Real Radio Show

On 25 December 2005, Jimmy Savile presented a show on the Real Radio network, counting down the festive Top 10s of 10, 20, and 30 years previously.

January 2006: Celebrity Big Brother

On 14 and 15 January 2006, Jimmy Savile visited the Celebrity Big Brother house (in series 4) and "fixed it" for some housemates to have their wishes granted.

July 2006: Co-hosting final Top of the Pops

On 30 July 2006, Jimmy Savile co-hosted the final weekly edition of the BBC music chart television programme Top of the Pops, ending it with the words "It's number one, it's still Top of the Pops".

2006: Co-presenting the last edition of Top of the Pops

In 2006, Jimmy Savile co-presented the final edition of the BBC music show Top of the Pops.

2006: Final Top of the Pops Appearance

In 2006, Jimmy Savile's appearance on the final edition of Top of the Pops was pre-recorded, because it clashed with the Lochaber Highland Games where he was chieftain.

January 2007: Real Radio New Year show

On 1 January 2007, Jimmy Savile presented shows on the Real Radio network.The show featured Savile recounting anecdotes from his past and playing associated records, mostly from the 1960s and some from the 1970s.

2007: Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again

In 2007, Jimmy Savile returned to television with Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again showing some of the most popular fix-its, recreating them with the same people, and making new dreams come true.

2007: Interviewed Under Caution

In 2007, Jimmy Savile was interviewed under caution by police investigating an allegation of indecent assault in the 1970s at Duncroft Approved School for Girls.

March 2008: Legal Proceedings Against The Sun

In March 2008, Jimmy Savile started legal proceedings against The Sun, which had linked him to child abuse at the Jersey children's home Haut de la Garenne.

November 2008: Possible cameo role in the programme Top of the Pops

On 20 November 2008, Jimmy Savile was interviewed by the BBC about the revival of Top of the Pops for a Christmas comeback, he said he would welcome a "cameo role" in the programme.

October 2009: Insufficient Evidence for Charges

In October 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service advised that there was insufficient evidence to take any further action regarding the allegation of indecent assault in the 1970s at Duncroft Approved School for Girls. No charges were brought.

2009: Review of 2009 decision to drop prosecution

By 19 October 2012, Operation Yewtree was opened to review the 2009 decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to drop a prosecution of Jimmy Savile as "unlikely to succeed."

2009: Honored for Charity Work

In 2009, Jimmy Savile was described by The Guardian as a "prodigious philanthropist" and was honored for his charity work.

2009: Licensed Fancy Dress Costumes

In 2009, a range of licensed fancy dress costumes was released with Jimmy Savile's consent, reflecting his distinctive dress sense.

2009: Complaints of Savile's abuse up to 2009

In January 2013, a joint report stated that complaints against Jimmy Savile spanned from 1955 to 2009, with victims ranging from 8 to 47 years old.

2009: Savile Defends Viewers of Child Pornography

In a 2009 interview with his biographer, Jimmy Savile defended viewers of child pornography, including pop star Gary Glitter. He argued that they "didn't do anything wrong" and described Glitter as unfairly vilified. The interview was not published at the time.

2010: Leeds University Research Enterprise Scholarship Scheme Commitment

In 2010, Jimmy Savile's sponsorship of medical students in the Leeds University Research Enterprise scholarship scheme received a commitment of £500,000 over the following five years.

October 2011: Bequest to Leeds University Research Enterprise

Following Jimmy Savile's death in October 2011, it was confirmed that a bequest had been made to allow continued support for the Leeds University Research Enterprise programme.

October 2011: Death of Jimmy Savile

In October 2011, Jimmy Savile died at the age of 84. After his death, hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse were made against him, tarnishing his reputation and leading the police to conclude that he was a predatory sex offender.

November 2011: Savile's Funeral

In November 2011, Jimmy Savile's closed coffin was displayed at the Queens Hotel in Leeds, with people paying their respects. His funeral took place at Leeds Cathedral on 9 November 2011, and he was buried at Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough, with his coffin inclined at 45 degrees.

December 2011: Newsnight investigation into Savile's sexual abuse withdrawn

In December 2011, BBC's Newsnight program withdrew an investigation into Jimmy Savile based on reports he was a sexual abuser. The investigation included interviews with alleged victims of abuse at Duncroft Approved School for Girls, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and the BBC. Two tributes to Savile were broadcast instead over Christmas 2011.

December 2011: Newsnight investigation into Savile's sexual abuse not publicly mentioned

In December 2011, there was no public mention of the Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savile's alleged sexual abuse immediately after his death, but in early 2012 newspapers reported that the BBC had investigated but not broadcast allegations of abuse. The Oldie alleged a cover-up by the BBC.

December 2011: Nick Pollard appointed to investigate dropped Newsnight investigation

In October 2012, in the wake of the developing scandal, Nick Pollard was appointed to investigate why the Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savile's activities was dropped shortly before transmission in December 2011.

2011: Praise in obituaries

Following his death in 2011 at the age of 84, Jimmy Savile was praised in obituaries for his personal qualities and his work raising an estimated £40 million for charities.

June 2012: Publication of authorised biography

In June 2012, an authorised biography of Jimmy Savile, How's About That Then?, by Alison Bellamy, was published. After the abuse claims, the author said she felt "let down and betrayed" by Savile.

How's About That Then? - Jimmy Savile by Alison Bellamy (2012-06-11)
How's About That Then? - Jimmy Savile by Alison Bellamy (2012-06-11)

July 2012: Auction of Savile's Possessions

On 30 July 2012, an auction of Jimmy Savile's possessions was conducted at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, with the proceeds going to charity. His silver Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible was sold for £130,000.

October 2012: Police pursue 400 lines of inquiry in Savile case

By 19 October 2012, police were pursuing 400 lines of inquiry based on testimony from 200 witnesses. The alleged abuse was described as "on an unprecedented scale", and the number of potential victims as "staggering". Operation Yewtree was opened to identify criminal conduct related to Savile's activities.

October 2012: Charities Announce Closure

During the sexual abuse scandal in October 2012, the Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust and the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust announced they would distribute their funds, totaling £1.7 million and £3.7 million respectively, among other charities and then close down.

October 2012: ITV Documentary and Abuse Claims

In October 2012, an ITV documentary examined claims of sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile, leading to extensive media coverage and numerous accusations.

October 2012: BBC and NHS inquiries launched

In October 2012, inquiries into practices at the BBC and the National Health Service were initiated due to the developing scandal. George Entwistle, Director-General of the BBC, apologized, and Dame Janet Smith was appointed to review the BBC's culture and practices during Savile's time there. Nick Pollard was appointed to investigate why the Newsnight investigation was dropped in December 2011.

October 2012: Panorama investigation and resignation at Newsnight

On 22 October 2012, the BBC program Panorama broadcast an investigation into Newsnight, finding evidence suggesting "senior manager" pressure; on the same day Newsnight editor Peter Rippon "stepped down" with immediate effect. The Department of Health appointed Kate Lampard to chair investigations into Savile's activities at various hospitals.

October 2012: Removal of Savile's headstone

On 9 October 2012, relatives said the headstone of Jimmy Savile's grave would be removed, destroyed, and sent to landfill. The Savile family expressed their sorrow for the "anguish" of the victims. On 28 October, it was reported that Savile's cottage in Glen Coe had been vandalised.

October 2012: Places and organisations remove Savile's name

Within a month of the child abuse scandal emerging, many places and organisations named after or connected to Savile were renamed or had his name removed. A memorial plaque on the wall of Savile's former home in Scarborough was removed in early October 2012 after it was defaced with graffiti. A wooden statue of Savile at Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow was also removed around the same time.

November 2012: Exposure Update: The Jimmy Savile Investigation shown on ITV

Exposure Update: The Jimmy Savile Investigation was shown on ITV on 21 November 2012, detailing the extent of allegations against Savile.

November 2012: Scale of allegations against Savile deemed unprecedented

On 12 November 2012, the Metropolitan Police announced that the scale of sexual allegations reported against Savile was "unprecedented" in Britain, with a total of 450 alleged victims contacting the police in the ten weeks since the investigation was launched.

December 2012: Review of BBC's handling of Savile allegations

In December 2012, Nick Pollard's review of the BBC's handling of the Savile scandal described the decision not to broadcast the Newsnight investigation as flawed. The review highlighted cogent evidence of Savile's abuse and criticized George Entwistle's caution.

December 2012: Letters Confirm Friendship with Thatcher

In December 2012, letters released by the National Archives under the thirty-year rule confirmed the "close friendship" between Jimmy Savile and Margaret Thatcher.

2012: Savile Banned from Children in Need

In 2012, Sir Roger Jones disclosed that more than a decade before Jimmy Savile's death, he had banned the "very strange" and "creepy" Savile from involvement in the BBC charity Children in Need.

2012: Reports of Abuse at Hospitals

In 2012, it was reported that Jimmy Savile had sexually abused vulnerable patients at Stoke Mandeville and Broadmoor Hospitals.

January 2013: Joint report details complaints against Savile

In January 2013, a joint report by the NSPCC and Metropolitan Police, Giving Victims a Voice, stated that 450 people had made complaints against Savile. The alleged abuse spanned from 1955 to 2009, with victims ranging from 8 to 47 years old.

November 2013: Adrian Street describes Savile's behaviour in interview

In a November 2013 interview, former professional wrestler Adrian Street described how Jimmy Savile would boast about young girls waiting for him outside his dressing room and how he would choose which ones he wanted.

2013: Release of Public Image Ltd Album with Unedited Interview

In 2013, after Jimmy Savile's death, the complete 1978 BBC Radio 1 interview with John Lydon, including his comments about Savile, was included as a bonus track on a re-release of Public Image Ltd's 1978 debut album Public Image: First Issue.

June 2014: NHS Investigations Concluded

In June 2014, investigations into Jimmy Savile's activities at 28 NHS hospitals concluded that he had sexually assaulted staff and patients aged between 5 and 75 over several decades.

June 2014: Public apology delivered by UK Secretary of State for Health

On 26 June 2014, UK Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt delivered a public apology in the House of Commons to the patients of the National Health Service abused by Savile. He confirmed that complaints had been raised before 2012 but were ignored by the bureaucratic system.

October 2014: Lydon Expands on Savile Comments

In October 2014, John Lydon expanded on his original 1978 quote about Jimmy Savile, expressing his disgust at the media for pretending they weren't aware of Savile's conduct.

2016: Follow-Up Theroux Documentary

In 2016, a follow-up documentary, Louis Theroux: Savile, about Jimmy Savile and Louis Theroux's inability to dig more deeply, aired on BBC Two.

March 2019: Concerns about Savile's private life during Honours Committee meeting

During the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in March 2019, it was reported that Robert Armstrong, the head of the Honours Committee, had resisted attempts by Margaret Thatcher to award Savile a knighthood in the 1980s, due to concerns about his private life.

October 2020: BBC announces television mini-series

In October 2020 the BBC announced a television mini-series with the working title The Reckoning, intended to recount Jimmy Savile's rise to fame and the sexual abuse scandal that emerged after his death.

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September 2021: Steve Coogan Cast as Savile

In September 2021, Steve Coogan was cast as Jimmy Savile in a dramatisation about Savile's life. Coogan stated that he considered the decision carefully, acknowledging the story's disturbing nature but emphasizing the need to tell it.

September 2021: Cabinet Office statement on Savile's honours

In September 2021, the Cabinet Office stated, with reference to Savile's OBE and knighthood, that "The Forfeiture Committee can confirm that had James Wilson Vincent Savile been convicted of the crimes of which he is accused, forfeiture proceedings would have commenced."

April 2022: Netflix releases documentary on Savile

In April 2022, Netflix released a two-part documentary, Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, covering Savile's life, career, history of sexual abuse, and the scandal following his death in 2011.

2022: Former BBC presenter Mark Lawson writes about Savile encounters

In 2022, former BBC presenter Mark Lawson wrote about his encounters with Jimmy Savile, and hearing from many BBC personnel about Savile's abuse and rumored necrophilia.