more interesting stuff on The Death of The Life of Jimnmy Savile pointing out (and perhaps JK can confirm this) something I thought was fairly regular at the BBC in those days: that far from Savile being some unbelievable asset for the BBC it was more like he was tolerated because they thought the kids liked him, he was never paid much by them (and was never actually employed- a contractor) but used that profile to make heaps of money elsewhere, as so many do.

This re-writing of history is really troublesome...it's happening before our very eyes. Goebels must be looking down (or up) in sheer envy.

jimcannotfixthis.blogspot.co.uk/

Not that powerful he lost all his wrestling bouts.

I wouldn't say he was powerful at all.

You've got him as a quartet of hosts of TOTPs. Pete Murray was offered that show, as the sole presenter. The TOTPs name was thought up by JS, after he was approached. He'd been a regular panelist on Juke Box Jury since 1959, when he tipped Paul Anka's "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" as a "HIT".

1968 until he was given Radio 1 time, via Speakeasy (the subject/views show with Colin Semper) & Savile's Travels (which was in production from 68 to 77).

Clunk Click & Fix It (I guess) would of stemmed from Savile's Travels.

On all those he was just a host, anyone could of done those shows.

On the Charity boat. But then so were many others. I suppose he did the most for charity, hence the OBE in 1973. Which reminded me of the piss take in Magic Roundabout, where Ermintrude goes on about "What's an OBE"? And Dougal replied "Over Boiled 'Ed" or was it "Egg"?

Don't see any power in any of him. A presenter that could be annoying maybe, but he knew how to get the better of jumped up Pressman & interviewers, something portrayed in that episode of "The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin", where Leonard Rossiter (in the role of Perrin)goes on make believe TV shows & talks nonsense.

Speaking to Ray Teret on Facebook. He says Jimmy never had anything bad to say about anyone. He was frugal, apart from charity & never did anyone any harm in his entire life. And he helped people get a foot in the door, when asked without a 2nd thought.

What i found hard to believe is he was so powerful that he had politicians, the royal family and the police
at his beck and call. That's what i can't understand.
How can one slightly weird old guy be THAT powerful? It doesn't ring true.

He was dropped by TOTP in 1984, dropped by radio 1 in 1987, and by Jim'll Fix It in 1993, hardly the sign of a man who was untouchable.

do correct if wrong but I'm sure i read that Savile wasn't even first choice to host Jim'll'Fixit.

Roy Castle was also asked to do it. Heard him say so on TV, many years back. He turned it down to continue Record Breakers, after also turning down "Crackerjack", when they gave it to Ed Stewart also in 1975. Though I never did get why a great talent like Roy, was wasted on Kids TV.

I gather from some friends I have who worked at the Beeb that Mr Castle was known as a 'very difficult performer' to deal with and had initials placed on him to that effect to warn others. I can't remember what they were but it was something uncomplimentary.

heeda wrote:
do correct if wrong but I'm sure i read that Savile wasn't even first choice to host Jim'll'Fixit.

Jim Davidson?

Pattaya wrote:
heeda wrote:
do correct if wrong but I'm sure i read that Savile wasn't even first choice to host Jim'll'Fixit.

Jim Davidson?



it may well have been Rolf'll'Fixit !

Possibly such a talented person of Roy's calibre, got people's backs up & they didn't think that Roy knew best, when he probably did.

Seems to be compared to someone still much alive, Bruce Forsyth. But I can't fathom, any real talent in him. He made his living out of taking the piss of the general public.

Though I met Forsyth, when I was in hospital once (when he was doing some opening, or summat) & found him to be the most pigheaded celebrity arsehole, I'd ever met. You'd of thought he was the King or something. King Tosspot!

Then on another occasion, I met Bob Monkhouse & he was just so plain nice & friendly & hilarious, on opening a Sainsburys in the 70s.

I met Monkhouse as well once and he was as nice as pie.