Lasting Legacy of Jimmy Savile: A Look at the Influence on History

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Jimmy Savile across different fields.

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.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

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.

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.

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.

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)

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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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

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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: 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.

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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.