Sir Jimmy Savile 1926-2011: Obituary

James Wilson Vincent Savile was born on October 31, 1926 in West Yorkshire. He was the youngest of seven children born to homemaker Agnes Monica and bookmaker's clerk Vincent Savile. He had a brush with death at just 5 months old when he contracted pneumonia, but apparently recovered after his mother asked a nun to pray for him.

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As a teenager, Savile was conscripted to work in coal mines during World War II and narrowly escaped death again in an underground explosion. He was warned that he may never walk again after the blast brought a rock face down on his back, damaging his spine. However, he defied doctors' expectations by throwing away his crutches after just three years.

Savile discovered a love for music in 1940s and began playing records in local dance halls. His use of two turntables and a microphone at the Guardbridge Hotel in 1947 is said to be the first instance of this now-standard practice and Savile regarded himself to be the world's first DJ.

He went on to manage several dance halls around the country in 1950s and worked as a hospital porter at Broadmoor Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.

He also carved a semi-professional sports career for himself, taking part in the 1951 Tour of Britain cycle race and working as a professional wrestler, although he won just seven of 107 bouts.

But music was Savile's real passion and he joined pirate station Radio Luxembourg as a DJ in 1958. While there, he was recruited to launch classic BBC chart show Top of the Pops on New Year's Day 1964.

He left Radio Luxembourg in 1967 and joined Radio 1 the following year, where he fronted Savile's Travels, discussion format Speakeasy and retrospective chart show Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club. Savile left Radio 1 in 1989, by which time he had launched his best known piece of work - the TV show Jim'll Fix It.

The programme, which saw Savile make children's dreams come true, ran on the BBC between 1974 and 1994. Over its 20-year run, Savile 'fixed it' for more than 1,500 fans.

Savile could still be heard on various radio stations around the UK until the late '90s and he made several more appearances on TV, becoming the subject of a Louis Theroux documentary in 2000 and returning to front the last ever edition of Top of the Pops in 2006.

Savile was not just known for his work in the media; his array of catchphrases like "now then, now then, now then" became iconic and his distinct style of shell suits and gold jewellery teamed with a smoking cigar was frequently spoofed.

He was also famed for his extensive charity work, raising amounts in excess of £40m, most of which went to patients with spinal injuries.

Savile was honoured with an OBE in 1971 and received a knighthood in the Queen's 1990 Birthday Honours List. Other accolades collected throughout his life included a papal knighthood from the Vatican and an honorary doctorate of law from the University Of Leeds. He also became one of only two civilians to complete the Royal Marine Commando speed march across Dartmoor.