In The News

TV presenter and charity fundraiser Sir Jimmy Savile passes away

TV presenter and charity fundraiser Sir Jimmy Savile passes away

SIR Jimmy Savile, the charity fundraiser and former DJ and TV presenter, has passed away, two days before his 85th. birthday.

Sir Jimmy always laid claim to being the UK’s first DJ, saying he was also the first to use twin record decks and a microphone at an event in the late 1940s.

He had turned to entertainment after being injured in an explosion while working a Bevin Boy down the mines during the Second World War.

Sir Jimmy went on to work as a DJ on Radio Luxembourg during the 1950s before joining the BBC. He then turned his talents to television and presented the first edition of Top Of The Pops. He was appear on the final edition of the show in 2006.

He will be best remembered by many as the presenter of the TV show Jim’ll Fix It in which he would grant the wishes of young viewers.

Sir Jimmy was also known for his catchphrases, which included Howzabout That Then... and Now Then...Now Then.

As a young man, Sir Jimmy had a keen interest in sport, at one point in the 1950s he had taken part in cycling events as a semi-professional sportsman and also competed as a wrestler.

Until a few years ago Sir Jimmy regularly took part in marathons and charity fun runs — it’s thought he may have run in around 200 marathons.

But perhaps his greatest achievement was as a tireless fundraiser for charity. Over the years he raised more than £40million. 

His efforts were rewarded in 1990 when he was knighted by the Queen.

Sir Jimmy had been unwell in recent weeks and is understood to have spent a spell in hospital being treated for suspected pneumonia. 

 

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