Vale: Jimmy Savile

UK entertainer Jimmy Savile, best known for hosting BBC’s Top of the Pops, has died aged 84.

Police were called to his house at Roundhay, Leeds, just after midday on Saturday and said there were no suspicious circumstances around his death.

The veteran radio and TV personality campaigned and raised money tirelessly for charity.

Perceived as a court jester to the royal family and friend to prime ministers, his public image was one of platinum-dyed hair, chunky jewellery, tracksuits, Havana cigars and inane patter but behind it lay the sharp brain of a cool-headed Yorkshire businessman, who was also a member of Mensa.

He moved from BBC Radio1 to television as host of  Top of the Pops, where his catchphrases such as “How’s about that guys and gals” became affectionate trademarks.

Then, in the 1970s, he started a 20-year run as host of Jim’ll Fix It, working miracles for more than 1,500 children.

He became a regular visitor to Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and Highgrove and was used as an intermediary in an attempt to resolve the differences between the Prince and Princess of Wales shortly before their split.

And Louis Theroux probed his apparently odd lifestyle for his Weird Weekends series, staying with the presenter for his When Louis Met Jimmy programme.

Savile also made an appearance in the Celebrity Big Brother house on Channel 4 with “fix-its” for some of the housemates.

Savile got the OBE in 1971, his knighthood in 1990 and in between racked up an honorary doctorate of law from Leeds University, an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Radiology, was made a Knight of Malta, and claimed to be an honorary Royal Marines green beret and an Esteemed Friend of Israel.

Source: Guardian