Jimmy Savile

[Butts]

Am I alone in feeling a certain degree of unease in the way his character is being besmirched with seemingly no one to defend him. Obviously as he is deceased he is unable to do this himself. I don't think I have heard one instance of anyone attempting to explain what happened.

If he is guilty of the allegations that have surfaced then certainly his conduct is reprehensible, but one wonders why the accusers have waited so long to come forward.

Even worse is a multitude of female commentators coming forward to claim they have been the subject of various assaults and or harrassment. I have noted Liz Kershaw and Janet street Porter at the forefront of these harridans.

Tellingly neither of them have named the alleged perpetrators who are seemingly still alive. Until they do no credence should be given to their stories which is essentially what they are without full disclosure.

I saw Freddie Starr denying he was involved on the news tonight - along with his 34yr old fiancee (theres hope for me yet ) seemingly standing by him. He has not aged well and seems very bloated.

I started work in the late seventies and believe me predatory behaviour was not exclusive to males in the workplace. Middle-Aged Females are just as capable as Men of subjecting junior employees to humiliating and compromising situations. "De-Bagging" young males was almost "de rigeur"

 

[SS4]

I'm more concerned with the assumed guilt. Obviously the CPS won't charge a dead man so we'll never know the truth yet it doesn't seem to stop the popular media assuming he was guilty.

 

[Monty]

I never was a particular fan of Jimmy Saville and always thought of him as being a bit of a creep. That said I think it's utterly deplorable how the whole sorry charade is being handled, the man is dead and there is no chance in hell in him receiving a fair trial. The investigation is still on going and with no evidence other than the whispers of a few dozen anonymous women they are already talking of stipping him of his knighthood, there are also plans to remove his headstone and some councils have already removed memorials dedicated to him. The media and mob rule stike again before any conclusive report is published..

 

[ainsworth74]

Am I alone in feeling a certain degree of unease in the way his character is being besmirched with seemingly no one to defend him. Obviously as he is deceased he is unable to do this himself. I don't think I have heard one instance of anyone attempting to explain what happened.

If he is guilty of the allegations that have surfaced then certainly his conduct is reprehensible, but one wonders why the accusers have waited so long to come forward.

No you are most certainly not alone and I feel almost the same as you do on this subject. The whole thing just strikes me as being both pointless and to be honest in bad taste. Clearly if he is guilty then that's reprehensible but still why wait till now to make the accusation? Are the CPS expected to exhume and then charge his corpse and punish him (assuming he even is guilty)? Justice 1660s style perhaps?

 

[Ferret]

I'm more concerned with the assumed guilt. Obviously the CPS won't charge a dead man so we'll never know the truth yet it doesn't seem to stop the popular media assuming he was guilty.

Ah yes, trial by media. Wonderful concept isn't it, and now the norm. I for one am very uneasy about what is currently going on - and I'd like to know why nothing was done while he was still alive. I've also lost all respect for Esther - she claimed to know something was wrong all along, yet said f##k all while Jimmy Saville went on presenting what was essentially a TV show for children. I mean FFS you dozy mare, what sane person could do that and have a clean conscience?! The whole thing is very distasteful, and I'm not sure the actual truth will ever be known now.

 

[Johnuk123]

I should imagine a lot of these women are telling the truth.

But unfortunately it will also bring out some liars who will be looking for magazine deals and they'll get them.

I understand people saying that the victims will get some closure if anything is verified.But I would have thougt the Police would be better used tackling things that can result in a prosecution.

Every day brings more women apparently coming forward.Saying all that I should imagine a few blokes from the 70's might be slightly worried.

Strangely enough I had to visit Broadmoor a few times in the early 1990's to interview somebody. I remember a nurse pointing out a small old gatehouse cottage at the entrance where she said Jimmy Saville used to stay when he did a few shifts. She told us that "everybody knew about Jimmy and his boyfriends who he entertained there"
From that date I always assumed he was a bit half and half so perhaps even more may yet come out.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I'm more concerned with the assumed guilt. Obviously the CPS won't charge a dead man so we'll never know the truth yet it doesn't seem to stop the popular media assuming he was guilty.

Yep I feel the same.

Now, I don't agree with the OP regarding the question of why have people waited this long. I think it is perfectly reasonable why someone would have waited. Someone as much of a celebrity as Saville - theres no chance as a young girl you would be believed!

But I am worried about how people are just assuming he was guilty. In this country you are innocent unless proven guilty. End of in my view.

 

[Oswyntail]

IIRC, there has been a steady trickle of "stories" about these goings on since the '60s. They are "coming out now" - i.e being taken seriously - because of the TV programme.
What has struck me today is that the policeman heading the enquiry has said, in a national television interview, that, had he been still alive, Saville would have been in custody. This suggests that there is some pretty conclusive evidence (unless the policeman has completely abandoned professional standards)

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

IIRC, there has been a steady trickle of "stories" about these goings on since the '60s. They are "coming out now" - i.e being taken seriously - because of the TV programme.

I agree, can't remember when or how I heard the rumours, but it was long before the age of the internet. Of course many of the events occurred in the 'old' days, when I imagine that there were many under-age girls - groupies- hanging around looking for rock stars after gigs, and of course the band members in the 60's and 70's weren't much older than the girls....but the allegations against Jimmy Savile are different - in that he spent some time actually grooming the girls, a real sign of a predator....and of course, he was much older than the guys in the bands!

 

[Flamingo]

Anybody else hear Jeremy Vine on his show yesterday asking Esther Rantzen "Well if you knew it 25 years ago, why didn't you report him?"

It seems to have been an open secret in the showbiz world, the real enquiry and question should be why did nobody act on it until a year after his death?

 

[kylemore]

The 1970s were a different country in many ways and attitudes to sex and "birds" etc was very different - you've only got to watch TV from the time!

I imagine there'll be a lot of worried 60 to 80 somethings who were prominent in the Pop Music, Radio and TV worlds of that time (the ones who have so far escaped the consequences of their actions that is).

It's true that lots of starstruck girls (and boys) were willing to do anything to be part of that, to them, amazing world, and a lot of these men would not be too fussy about checking the ages of the "groupies" they took advantage of. That's reprehensible enough - every adult has a duty of care, no matter who they are or how drunk or stoned they were - but it seems that many of these men went beyond that. There were good reasons for these women not coming forward
in his lifetime, however the truth will out.

 

[Ferret]

Anybody else hear Jeremy Vine on his show yesterday asking Esther Rantzen "Well if you knew it 25 years ago, why didn't you report him?"

It seems to have been an open secret in the showbiz world, the real enquiry and question should be why did nobody act on it until a year after his death?

Good on Jeremy Vine. I doubt 'Stacey' of this forum will be reading this, but if she does, she'll confirm she witnessed an epic rant from me while I was driving us down to the SVR last Thursday, berating dear Esther Rantzen for saying nothing if she did indeed know all along.

 

[kylemore]

Good on Jeremy Vine. I doubt 'Stacey' of this forum will be reading this, but if she does, she'll confirm she witnessed an epic rant from me while I was driving us down to the SVR last Thursday, berating dear Esther Rantzen for saying nothing if she did indeed know all along.

Yes she has'nt come out of this well, her "performance" on the Exposure documentary was as insincere as it gets.

 

[Oswyntail]

...
It seems to have been an open secret in the showbiz world, the real enquiry and question should be why did nobody act on it until a year after his death?

I think that is how the enquiry is developing

 

[Ferret]

I think that is how the enquiry is developing

Well, *if* this is true, plenty of people must have known and kept schtum. Just as bad in my eyes to be complicit.....

 

[Butts]

Well, *if* this is true, plenty of people must have known and kept schtum. Just as bad in my eyes to be complicit.....

As has been hinted at most Radio 1 DJ's who let's face it were like gods in the 70's pre internet age probably had the chance to avail themselves of young ladies - I doubt Saville was the only one who may have a few "skeletons in the cupboard"

Radio One on the Road ...."it's the sound that's alive it's on 275 and 285 "

Perhaps "smiley miley" (if he's still with us) will be required to produce some statistics other than those of the mileage between venues

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has the charity that carries his name made a decision on what they propose to do yet?

 

[Geezertronic]

Probably spell his surname right for a start The media seem to be reporting it as Savile so I'll go with that.

I assume there are quite a few other personalities who are worried right now, I wonder whether some rock stars are too?

 

[SS4]

Probably spell his surname right for a start The media seem to be reporting it as Savile so I'll go with that.

I assume there are quite a few other personalities who are worried right now, I wonder whether some rock stars are too?

Surely it's a coincidence that the last four letter spell vile, it's not like the media would attempt to mislead us surely

 

[Eagle]

Surely it's a coincidence that the last four letter spell vile, it's not like the media would attempt to mislead us surely

In fact his name is basically just a respaced, depunctuated version of "Jimmy's a vile..."

 

[Cable Car]

Notice his headstone is being removed by the family.
Wonder what will become of his charity.
As for those posters saying the 70s was different, they're right the 70s were another country.
There might be more than old show biz types who are worried.
A lot of this was pushed under the carpet.
How it still effects not just the 70s victims through mental health problems etc but also the victims families past and present.
Pity the programme didn't happen earlier.

 

[SS4]

Notice his headstone is being removed by the family.
Wonder what will become of his charity.
As for those posters saying the 70s was different, they're right the 70s were another country.
There might be more than old show biz types who are worried.
A lot of this was pushed under the carpet.
How it still effects not just the 70s victims through mental health problems etc but also the victims families past and present.
Pity the programme didn't happen earlier.

Wouldn't you remove your family member's headstone if it was in danger of being vandalised thanks to unsubstantiated rumour?


It's actually pretty damn scary how quickly one's reputation can be tarnished without any proof.


edit: 5000th post

 

[Cable Car]

How would you substantiate such a thing from 30/40 years ago?
Other than women who were sexually abused coming forward.

 

[Condor7]

But I am worried about how people are just assuming he was guilty. In this country you are innocent unless proven guilty. End of in my view.

My view exactly.
We are hearing streets named after him are being removed, and blue plaques also being removed. We even have the BBC apologising.

Come on!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes by all means if he is PROVED guilty, but until then he is an innocent man.

 

[Butts]

My view exactly.
We are hearing streets named after him are being removed, and blue plaques also being removed. We even have the BBC apologising.

Come on!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes by all means if he is PROVED guilty, but until then he is an innocent man.

As he's no longer with us, short of some pictures or filmed evidence coming to light the question of proof will remain unanswered.

 

[wintonian]

But I am worried about how people are just assuming he was guilty. In this country you are innocent unless proven guilty. End of in my view.

That used to be the case but sadly these days you can be summary convicted then subjected to a 'trial by media'.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That used to be the case but sadly these days you can be summary convicted then subjected to a 'trial by media'.

Double standards certainly apply to the media these days, who see wrong in all walks of life....with the sole exception of the media..

 

[Eagle]

...they are already talking of stripping him of his knighthood...

Legally, that's impossible. He forfeited his knighthood last year by dying.

(Knighthoods can only properly be stripped from the living.)

 

[wintonian]

Double standards certainly apply to the media these days, who see wrong in all walks of life....with the sole exception of the media..

Innocent or guilty, this must all be rather distressing for his family to have this idle speculation banded around the press as almost as if fact.

 

[fgwrich]

That used to be the case but sadly these days you can be summary convicted then subjected to a 'trial by media'.

Certainly is these days unfortunately. And i can't help but to feel that broadcasters & the newspapers are gradually going over the top in what their allowed to write / how much of a sound bite their allowed to Manipulate. As you say Paul Sidorczuk, Double standards.

As for his headstone and the path sign removing in Scarborough. I also find the way this is being handled rather sad too, especially as the media is reporting that his headstone is to be 'dumped in a landfill site'. This all before any thorough report has been published.

But i also have to agree with Johnuk123.

I should imagine a lot of these women are telling the truth.

But unfortunately it will also bring out some liars who will be looking for magazine deals and they'll get them.I understand people saying that the victims will get some closure if anything is verified.But I would have thougt the Police would be better used tackling things that can result in a prosecution