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Original poster

To wonder what people really thought of Jimmy Savile when he was alive?

549 replies

BarmyBrunhilde · 11/04/2022 21:42

I'm a millennial, and was only really vaguely aware of who he was really, so watching the recent Netflix documentary I was fairly bemused to see how popular he seemed to be. Obviously he was beloved by the establishment, including the royals, Thatcher etc but he seemed to have massive following among the public.

Everyone now seems to say 'oh yes I always knew he was creepy' but I have to wonder - for those who grow up in the 60s-80s how was he really seen? In the documentary it seems like he had always had crowds of screaming and adoring fans, and they generally seemed none the wiser? It seemed like industry people and his poor victims were the only ones who really had any idea.

OP posts:
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6
AnybodyAnywhere · 13/04/2022 09:38

In 1968 (or near then) 2 girls in my class went to Top Of the Pops (would have been 13/14 years old) and we were also jealous. The next day they told us that it was great…except for Savile. He got them to stand near him, they were delighted because they’d be on TV, and then groped them constantly. Put us all right off him.

jakesmommy · 13/04/2022 09:48

As a 1980s child I enjoyed watching Jim'll Fix It with my parents but I didnt like his eyes, even as a child of 7/8 his eyes gave me the creeps.

ValerieCupcake · 13/04/2022 09:56

As a kid I thought he was weird. I don't remember him on Top of the Pops but I did watch Jim'll Fix it. He was well in his 70s then. I remember him turning up in Celebrity Big Brother and he looked bizarre.

He stuck up for Gary Glitter when he was arrested and said you should be able to watch what you like in your own house.

Johnny Rotten knew what he was like but nobody listened to him.

He did all the charity stuff and loved his mum as a cover for all the terrible stuff he was up to. Hiding in plain sight.

MyopicBunny · 27/04/2023 16:45

I’ve just watched the documentary ‘A British horror story’ on Netflix. I find it incredibly embarrassing how people creeped round him and laughed at his obviously inappropriate behaviour.

A lot of people cloaked this man’s sins and it makes me sick.

And why the fuck was King Charles asking him repeatedly for advice in many letters? So concerning….

x2boys · 27/04/2023 16:56

I'm sure there loads of replies, d from people saying they always knew he was a wrong un,
I loved Jim,'ll fix it and just thought he was a larger than life personality ,obviously it's sickening now that Many people including the BBC knew about the rumours and he was allowed to get away,with his horrific crimes ,he was untouchable ,because he was "Saint Jim".

Exasperatednow · 27/04/2023 17:01

M9st people thought he was creepy. I dint think many people were surprised.

But then again there was a lot of creepy blokes around in the 70s and 80s.

SherbetDips · 27/04/2023 17:02

I was too young really but my mum said he always gave her the creeps.

Thereshegoesagain · 27/04/2023 17:04

In all honesty, as I child, I'd have rather sat on Jimmy Saville's knee rather than Barry Humphries, he really did give me the creeps, and Benny Hill.
Once Saville got to Celeb BB, he really was a bit of a weirdo, but I never felt the 'I knew' stance a lot of people had/have ( for him anyway).

KohlaParasaurus · 27/04/2023 17:06

Late 50s. I thought JS was scruffy and annoying and didn't like watching him on television, but it never occurred to me that he might be "creepy". I had a straightlaced upbringing and wouldn't have had the life experience, concepts or vocabulary.

Rolf Harris, on the other hand, was absolutely adored in my household.

ColdHandsHotHead · 27/04/2023 17:08

I thought he was bloody odd. I remember reading an article where he said he used to leave a dress of his late mother's hanging up in his bedroom as company and would swap it for a different one every so often.

OneFrenchEgg · 27/04/2023 17:08

x2boys · 27/04/2023 16:56

I'm sure there loads of replies, d from people saying they always knew he was a wrong un,
I loved Jim,'ll fix it and just thought he was a larger than life personality ,obviously it's sickening now that Many people including the BBC knew about the rumours and he was allowed to get away,with his horrific crimes ,he was untouchable ,because he was "Saint Jim".

Same here. I really wanted to go Jim'll Fix it. I don't remember anyone thinking he was a creep.

LadyJaneHall · 27/04/2023 17:12

I remember him from the 60s on TOTP. He always seemed weird and unpleasant, if not actually creepy. I never understood why such an unlikeable person with an odd manner and clothes was on so many programmes. My son says he remembers his Dad and I both complaining about him being on TV in the Jim'll Fix It era.

crew2022 · 27/04/2023 17:13

I did think he was strange but I tried to get on his show. Had no idea what he was actually like.

Throwncrumbs · 27/04/2023 17:17

Thought he was rank and creepy on TOTP and JFI, he got away with it because the BBC protected him for years, don’t know how they got/get away with it tbh!

VickyEadieofThigh · 27/04/2023 17:17

EpicDay · 11/04/2022 21:55

I always thought he was gross - found him utterly bizarre. I was a kid in the 1970s.

Yep, me too. I could never understand why he was employed on TV and radio at all. I thought he was talentless and creepy.

DeadButDelicious · 27/04/2023 17:19

Born in 82, so he was on the tv a lot when I was young. I didn't like him. I found him a bit scary. I didn't like the cigar or the tracksuits. I'm not going to claim insider knowledge or anything but I was not even a little bit surprised when it all came out about him.

Anon1368 · 27/04/2023 17:22

He was a mainstream presenter of prime time shows. I remember liking Jim'll fix it as a child and thinking people were lucky to go on it. I didn't like him in the way that maybe you wouldn't like a presenter who was a bit loud and obnoxious.

AlwaysGinPlease · 27/04/2023 17:43

Hated him as a child. The adults in our family did too. Sadly so many people that could have stopped him, knew what he was.

Hongkongsuey · 27/04/2023 17:47

I worked with someone worked at Stoke Mandeville when JS used to be there. He used to hang around their department at night when they were on call and offer to get them Chinese takeaways-think he had his own accommodation there and used to invite them. These were generally young women in their very early 20s. They all thought he was creepy and didn’t want to be alone with him. Of course, none of them knew what he was really up to.

Abhannmor · 27/04/2023 18:27

I'm old enough to remember him on TOTP and Radio1 ...maybe even Radio Luxembourg. Always thought he was a crap dj who didn't seem to know about pop music or even like it. Seemed ancient compared to the other deejays too.

I remember some long article about him - all doting on his Mum and being single. Foolishly I thought he was an old fashioned closet gay. Wrong!

JudgeRudy · 27/04/2023 18:32

CandyLeBonBon · 11/04/2022 21:44

I remember him on TOTP. I hated it it when he was on. I was a 70s child and an 80s teenager and really really hated him hosting Totp. I watched jim'll fix it and always wanted to be on it but never wanted to sit in the chair next to him!

I'm in my 50s. I felt pretty much the same growing up.The vibes I got were odd and creepy though I had no awareness of sexual abuse, but I knew I wouldn't want him to touch me. That hair, ghe way he yodeled and raised his eyebrows. The girls on TOTP always looked uncomfortable.
Cringey

MyopicBunny · 27/04/2023 18:33

Well he apparently was gay or at least had gay relationships but the darker truth was that he was a disgusting pedophile. I find him very unsettling.

I suppose that his exposure has made society less tolerant to anything inappropriate but it seems completely unfair that his victims got no justice.

AuntyPonsonby · 27/04/2023 22:13

I really liked him. I thought he was like a larger-than-life adult kid. Was desperate to be on Jim'll Fix It.

CactusSantaDresser · 27/04/2023 23:04

As a child I thought he was a bit weird but I still wanted to be on Jim'll Fix It and have my wish granted.

As an adult, the only thing that surprised me about the revelations was that it was girls that he targeted.

bigyellowTpot · 28/04/2023 01:38

Scottishmum1984 · 13/04/2022 08:19

@Buddywoo ah your poor daughter!!

You are right though, I remember (not Jimmy Savile) sexual assaults on myself as a teenager in the 90s even and telling peers / parents and it was more ‘yuk what a horrible person’ than ‘let’s report it’ very different times.

yes this, I was a teen in the 90s and I witnessed a couple of classmates being disgustingly groped by Pervy teachers infront of the whole class! these teachers even had nicknames as they were well known for it Mr pervy price etc. we also just said yuk what a perv we never for a moment thought to tell a parent and report it. it was very different times. so much better that things have changed.