After his death, hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse made against him were investigated, tarnishing his reputation and leading the police to conclude that he was a predatory sex offender [ 1 ] and possibly one of Britain's most prolific. Savile's victims allegedly included young children and elderly individuals. He began a career playing records in, and later managing, dance halls. His media career started as a disc jockey at Radio Luxembourg in and at Tyne Tees Television in From to , Savile was a regular presenter on the BBC music show Top of the Pops , also co-presenting the last edition in In , he began hosting his own radio shows for Radio 1 , broadcasting until From to , he presented Jim'll Fix It , an early Saturday evening television programme which arranged for the wishes of viewers, mainly children, to come true.
Savile was known for fundraising and supporting various charities and hospitals, in particular Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Leeds General Infirmary , and Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire. In , he was described by The Guardian as a "prodigious philanthropist" and was honoured for his charity work. Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by Savile spanning six decades, [ 4 ] describing him as a "predatory sex offender," and later stated that they were pursuing more than lines of inquiry based on the testimony of potential victims via 14 police forces.
His paternal grandmother was Scottish , whilst his mother was of Irish descent. Savile's mother believed he owed his life to the intercession of Margaret Sinclair , a Scottish nun, after he recovered quickly from illness, possibly pneumonia , [ 9 ] at the age of two when his mother prayed at Leeds Cathedral after picking up a pamphlet about Sinclair.
After leaving school at the age of 14 he worked in an office. According to his autobiography, he was the first to use two turntables and a microphone at the Grand Records Ball at the Guardbridge Hotel in , [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] although his claim to have been the first is untrue; twin turntables were illustrated in the BBC Handbook in and advertised for sale in Gramophone magazine in Savile lived in Salford from the mids to the mids, the later period with Ray Teret , who became his support DJ, assistant, and chauffeur.
When he lived in Great Clowes Street in Higher Broughton , Salford, he was often seen sitting on his front door steps. He managed the Mecca Locarno ballroom in Leeds in the late s and early s [ 33 ] as well as the Mecca-owned Palais dance hall in Ilford , Essex, between and His Monday evening records-only dance sessions admission one shilling were popular with local teens.
