Jimmy Savile's grim death as DJ's body was found with 'fingers crossed'

17 October 2023 , 14:35

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Jimmy Savile's grim death as DJ's body was found with 'fingers crossed'

Jimmy Savile - Britain's most notorious paedophile - got away with never facing the consequences of his crimes.

Savile, whose life and crimes are the subject of BBC drama The Reckoning - is suspected of committing close to 500 crimes in his life - the prolific sex offender was accused of "mucking about" with dead bodies in a mortuary, as well as using his grooming techniques to abuse freely at the infamous psychiatric hospital Broadmoor.

During his life, Savile's work as a charity man, campaigner and TV presenter earned him hero status among the general public and the British establishment. 'Sir' Jimmy Savile lived to a long age and, although he was openly accused and rumoured to be sex offender during his life, victims' allegations against him were dismissed.

His death brought accusations that continue to horrify the public to this day and resulted in Operation Yewtree, an investigation into historical acts of sex abuse that led to the downfall of some of Britain's most famous broadcast personalities and showbiz people like Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall.

How did Jimmy Savile die?

Jimmy Savile died of pneumonia two days before his 85th birthday at his penthouse home in Roundhay, Leeds. Nephew Roger Foster said at the time that the paedophile had "passed away quietly in his sleep during the night".

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Savile was buried at Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough. He demanded to be buried at a 45-degree angle in order for the Jim'll Fix It presenter to 'have a view of the sea'. After a tidal wave of allegations about his past crimes came out, Savile's family removed his £4,000 headstone and it was sent to landfill. The headstone bore the inscription "it was good while it lasted".

Steve Coogan as the late paedophile in the BBC drama The Reckoning (BBC/ITV Studios/Matt Squire)

Did Jimmy Savile die with his fingers crossed?

The BBC drama chronicling how Jimmy Savile hid in plain sight airs its final episode this evening, with The Reckoning wrapping things up with the DJ, played by Steve Coogan, dying at his home in Leeds in 2011. Scenes show a picture of Savile's late mother, The Duchess, on a coffee table as the former BBC presenter's body lays slumped in an armchair, with the camera panning to his crossed fingers.

But did this chilling detail actual take place in reality? Following Savile's demise in 2011, it was widely reported the sex offender had been discovered dead with his fingers crossed. Many speculated that the staunch Roman Catholic had crossed his fingers due to fears he would be going to hell.

Savile never face the consequences of his actions and abuse during his lifetime, but the former entertainer certainly believed in an afterlife where he would perhaps be punished for his crimes. The Yorkshireman was thought to often reference a 'balance sheet', with his extensive charity work acting in his twisted view as a way of counteracting his sickening behaviour.

Following Savile's sexual abuse being exposed after his death, a Vatican spokesman said the late DJ's papal knighthood "should not have been bestowed". Savile was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II for his charity work. It is one of the highest awards the Pope can bestow and a huge honour for a Roman Catholic.

When did Jimmy Savile die?

Jimmy Savile died at the age of 84 on October 29 2011, having been in hospital with pneumonia a short time before. In an interview before he died, Savile said: "I've got a bounce back-ability, but this time I don't seem to be bouncing back."

Savile also said in response to a question about turning 85: "So many women, so little time." Brave witnesses and victims of his crimes have told how Savile abused his positions of power and raped or molested them in his dressing room when he was Top Of The Pops presenter. His position as a beloved TV presenter and charity worker allowed Savile to get away with his crimes, including at Stoke Mandeville hospital, where he volunteered as a porter.

Savile's gravestone in 2012, before it was removed by his family and taken to landfill (Jonathan Pow)

An inquiry into the death of a teenage girl reportedly led to Savile admitting to his bosses at Radio One that he had been taking girls as young as 14 back to his flat after Top Of The Pops as they did not have a place to stay for the night. His explanation that he was simply doing them a favour seems to have been accepted at the time

A leaked BBC report in 2016 explained how Savile managed to avoid detection. It read: "During the Savile years, the culture in the BBC and BBC's management style did not encourage the reporting of complaints or concerns. Given the hierarchical structure, the impracticability of complaining to anyone other than a line manager and the weakness of the personnel department, the only option for a victim of inappropriate behaviour during the Savile years was to put up with it or leave."

The original draft, published by investigative news site Exaro News, bizarrely concluded: "By and large, they chose to stay because, in many respects, the BBC was a wonderful place to work."

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*The final episode of The Reckoning starring Steve Coogan airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight at 9pm. All four episodes are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

Zoe Delaney