Trivia

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, with the period of alleged abuse stretching from 1955 to 2009 and the ages of the complainants at the time of the assaults ranging from 8 to 47. The suspected victims included 28 children aged under 10, including 10 boys aged as young as 8. A further 63 were girls aged between 13 and 16 and nearly three-quarters of his victims were under 18. Some 214 criminal offenses were recorded, with 34 rapes having been reported across 28 police forces. Savile was never charged during his lifetime.

In November 2009 he received an honorary degree in the arts from the University of Bedfordshire for his lifelong support of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK. He particularly supported the Stoke Mandeville National Spinal Injuries Unit because he had brought about its inception and sustained a spinal injury (from which he eventually made a full recovery) as a result of a tunnel roof-fall while he was working as a coal miner in the 1940s. In October 2012, the university announced that the degree would be posthumously rescinded following a series of sexual abuse allegations made against him following his death.

In the 1990s, satirist Christopher Morris broadcast a spoof obituary of Savile on BBC Radio 1 which claimed he had dropped dead during the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Boxing Day party, but the patients were not mourning and wished he had suffered rather more.

Following the revelation of his crimes, there were many calls for him to be stripped of his Knighthood and OBE (Order of The British Empire) but this is impossible due to the honors dying with the person.

His second appearance on This Is Your Life (1955) is thought to have been a mistake by Thames TV, who had not only lost the recording of his first appearance but had completely forgotten that he had already appeared previously.

He became friendly with Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe during his trips to Broadmoor and even introduced him to boxer Frank Bruno, which is one of the few photographs taken of Sutcliffe since his incarceration in 1981.

Was a member of MENSA.

In 1962 Jimmy attempted to launch a recording career on Decca Records with the single "Ahab the Arab" written by Ray Stevens, this and its follow up "The Bossa Nova" sank quietly without trace.

To questions about his apparent lack of a sex life, Savile claimed that he had committed himself to entertainment from an early age and he had ruled out personal ties to concentrate on his career. He said that sex was "rather like going to the bathroom".

Did voluntary work as a porter at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.

Due to his distinctive voice, mannerisms, catchphrases and dress sense, he was one of the most frequently impersonated celebrities in Britain for decades. Notable examples are by The Two Ronnies (1971), Mike Yarwood, Alistair McGowan and Tweenies (1999).

Was a "Bevin Boy" at the end of World War 2: drafted to work in the coal mines (between 10% and 15% of conscripts were sent to the mines rather than into the military).

Sir Peter Parker, Chairman of British Rail, was so pleased with the success of the "This is the Age of the Train" advertising campaign which Jimmy Savile fronted that he gave him a gold pass allowing him unlimited use of the British railway system.

Gave the name to the show Top of the Pops (1964).

Left behind charity accounts totaling more than £5 million as well as a personal wealth worth at least £2.5 million. During his lifetime, he is believed to have raised £45 million for charity.

His closed coffin was laid In-State for a short time at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, England.

Created the "Double Deck" that could play two vinyl records back-to-back.

Was a successful respected advertising icon in the 1970s. His most remembered advert was for the "wear seat belts" campaign called "clunk click every trip", which lead to widespread take-up of seat belt use. He has also advertised train journeys "let the train take the strain" and "this is the age of the train", Green Shield Stamps, Bisto Gravy (with his mother), Startrite Shoes and Dale Farm Yoghurts.

He held the first UK Disco.

Spitting Image (1984) made a puppet of him which showed him, in a series of sketches, being chased around by doctors with butterfly nets.

Has run in many marathons and is thought to have helped raise over £40,000,000 for charitable causes.

Buried in the town of Scarborough, England. As he wished, his coffin was interred at a 45-degree angle to the vertical so it was "overlooking" the sea.

He called his beloved mother by the nick-name of "The Duchess".

He was one of the cyclist extras in the film A Boy, a Girl and a Bike (1949).

At aged 21 he was working at an ironmongers in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England, UK.

Once lived in a caravan in the back of the BBC car-park.

His funeral service was held at St Anne's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Leeds, England, where he had been christened as a baby.

His mother, Agnes Monica Savile, was born [1886] in Middle Street, Consett, Co Durham, England, UK and died in 1972.

Had a brother Vince born 1915 who became a CPO in the navy.

Once pretended to be his own brother by wearing a short haired dark wig.

Attended St. Anne's Roman Catholic School in Leeds, England.

His Radio Luxembourg programme for Decca in the early 60s, was known as 'The Teen & Twenty Disc Club'.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1972 Queen's New Years Honours List and was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1990 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to entertainment and charity.

Injured, although apparently not seriously, in a gas fire accident in England.

Was once voted tie-man of the year.

In October 2009 traded in his ancient Volkswagen Camper van for a new model which he uses to travel the country.