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Jimmy Savile

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Jimmy Savile was a famous media personality in the United Kingdom. He worked as a disc jockey and a television presenter. People knew him for his unique style and his many charity projects. He hosted well-known shows like Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It. The show Jim'll Fix It helped make wishes come true for many children.

Jimmy Savile Leeds Marathon 1982 cropped
Jimmy Savile Leeds Marathon 1982 cropped

Savile's career began with music and records. He started as a disc jockey at Radio Luxembourg in 1958. Later, he worked at Tyne Tees Television in 1960. He was a regular host on the BBC music show Top of the Pops from 1964 to 1988. He also hosted Radio 1 shows for many years. He even made famous advertisements for British Rail trains.

His early life was spent in Leeds, Yorkshire. He was the youngest of seven children in a Roman Catholic family. As a teenager during the Second World War, he worked in coal mines. He was a Bevin Boy, which was a type of worker during the war. He suffered spinal injuries from an explosion while working. He had to use sticks to walk for three years.

Savile was very active in raising money for others. He was known as a prodigious philanthropist, which means he gave a lot to charity. He raised an estimated £40 million for various groups. He supported hospitals like Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. Because of this work, he was awarded an OBE in 1971. He was also knighted in 1990.

Jimmy Savile's Coffin on display in the Queen's Hotel, Leeds, 8th November 2011
Jimmy Savile's Coffin on display in the Queen's Hotel, Leeds, 8th November 2011

After Savile died in 2011, many serious things were discovered. Hundreds of people came forward with claims of sexual abuse. Police investigated these claims for many years. They concluded that he was a predatory sex offender. The abuse reportedly lasted for six decades and included children and elderly people. Because of these findings, his honors were taken away. His old television shows are no longer shown on TV.

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File:Jimmy Savile Leeds Marathon 1982 cropped.JPG
Jimmy Savile Leeds Marathon 1982 cropped.JPG
File:Jimmy Savile's Coffin on display in the Queen's Hotel, Leeds, 8th November 2011.jpg
Jimmy Savile's Coffin on display in the...
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