Jimmy Savile (born October 31, 1926, Leeds, England—died October 29, 2011, Leeds) was a British entertainer who was a flamboyant radio and television personality known as much for his platinum-dyed hair, gaudy tracksuits, and enormous cigar as he was for his zany comedic style. After his death, he was the center of a sexual abuse scandal.
During World War II the teenaged Savile worked in the coal mines, during which time he suffered serious injuries in a mine explosion. He subsequently worked as a dance hall manager and disc jockey. He eventually became a DJ at Radio Luxembourg and (from 1968) BBC Radio 1. His TV work included Top of the Pops, on which he appeared frequently from its premiere on January 1, 1964, to its demise in July 2006, and the children’s show Jim’ll Fix It (1975–94), in which he granted wishes to young viewers. Through such shows, the eccentric Savile became a major TV and radio personality in the United Kingdom.
Savile was the recipient of numerous honors. He notably was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE; 1971) and was knighted (1990) in recognition of his charity work, which included volunteering at various medical establishments, for which he also raised donations. His other awards included a knighthood (1982) from the Vatican.
In 2012, a year after his death, the British television channel ITV aired a documentary which detailed allegations that Savile had molested or raped numerous underage boys and girls. Various investigations were launched as hundreds of possible victims came forward, and the results were damning. Notably, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service released a joint report in 2013 that stated that Savile had been a prolific abuser, sexually assaulting up to 500 people, the majority of whom were young girls. The crimes were primarily committed on BBC premises and at more than 10 hospitals.