Jimmy Saville

[ACE]

Do you know when the allegations first started I put it down to a groupie or two regretting a bit of a fondle in the dressing room when they were younger and didn't know better. But what has come out since then really beggars belief. Why wasn't it acted on before? The people who witnessed these terrible things and  who are  speaking up now should have said something at the time, then he would have been stopped in his tracks. Some of the celebrities who now say it was an open secret should be brought to book and the nurses and guardians of the children should be ashamed of themselves. It seems also that he was not alone and there were others who I hope are shaking in their boots. It is such a shame that he was such a pervert, because he did raise millions for good causes, but that money now seems tainted. My wife was once patted on the head by him when she was a lot younger while he was doing a bit for a good cause. She now says it makes her cringe to think of it since this lot became public.

[ACE]

[Borlotti]

I really don't understand this, if everyone knew, surely one or two people would have said something and stopped it.  I can't believe that money so corrupts, doctors, teachers etc. would have not had anything to lose if they came forward. Hopefully it was just a quick cuddle, and not full sex, but I don't understand all this. At least the girls are still alive, not like that 5 year old that hasn't been found. Why has everyone waited until he is dead, if everyone knew why was it still going on.  Very strange.  I must be ill, I agree with ACE.

[claybasket]

Ace your wife may just have been one of the lucky children who go away with a pat on the head,he was a PEDOPHILE ,and they always find ways to get near kids that are to scared to say a word,and yes there will be a few others sh------g it incase it gets out about them, It's the lowest kind of crime against childern,I'd hang them all.

[rosebud]

 I thought the same as Ace,at first.  I watched the documentary & was shocked to hear well known celebs! saying it was an open secret.
Esther Ranzen, should hang her head in shame forever, after knowing that open secret & saying nothing they all disgust me i shall never look at those that admitted they knew in the same wayagain.  Colleen Nolan, & sisters knew, surely somebody should have had the guts to speak up about the disgusting pervert.  The money he raised was probably to serve his guilty conscious his own "penance".  Esther Ranzen opened childline what does that say about some of the celebs, Louie Therouz( Spelling ) also admitted it was an open secret WHY for Gods sake did nobody do anything.
I hope those shaking in there shoes are named & shamed i bet they are buying copious amounts of toilet paper right now.

[Melbourne12]

But a lot of people DID complain, both victims and witnesses.  And what happened?  They were at best ignored, even by the police.  At worst they were punished.

I can understand this easily.  Every society has its shibboleths.  How dare anyone even criticise such a good and saintly man, so the script ran, never mind make wicked and unwholesome allegations about him.  Furthermore he had the money to sue and the powerful backing of the BBC.

We'd all like to think that we would have spoken out.  I'd like to think the same. But I have a suspicion that it would go something like this:

Me: "Oi! What the hell are you doing?"
JS (hastily withdrawing hand from child's pyjamas): "What's your problem?"
Me: "You were touching that kid, you paedo!"
JS: "I think you'll find that I wasn't! And if you want to keep your job/not find yourself in court, you'll apologise quick smart!"
Me (As realisation dawns): "Oh. ...... Sorry, my mistake."
Security: "I'd like you to leave the premises immediately, sir."
Me (meekly): I was just going ...."

[rosebud]

 Well put melbourne 12, yes indeed it could have been something like that.
BUT, if a few of the people who knew got together & complained maybe just maybe, who knows? the showbiz types i mean look how many children could have been saved from the pervert.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

I think Melbourne has put his finger on how it works. I'd add to threats of legal action, possible threats of violence too. I suspect Jimmy made sure he had friends in all sorts of places, some of them criminal.
I'd heard of the rumours years ago but there are so many rumours about prominent people and the man in the street can't separate truth from vindictiveness or character assassination. But given how widespread the rumours have been for so many years about Savile, it puzzles me how much leeway and even promotion he received. Were I a controller of programmes hearing rumours like that he would have been sidelined into obscurity toute de suite. Instead he got constant publicity.
The excuse that was trotted out for years was that it was all willing groupies. Yeah, like care homes and young offender institutions are full of groupies. The stories about hospitals were even darker!

[cornykev]

Agree with others, some did complain but as said they were in care homes and the like and were not believed and punished for daring to say such naughty things about the nice man mr saville who had given up his presious time,arse. He was so high profile in raising millions for charity the blind eye was turned, he probably knew there were peedo's in the police force, care homes and courts so pretty well knew he was untouchable. If you still have exposure on record, check out the bit where he was on clunk click and gary glitter came on the set and they both sat inbetween girls and had there arms round them and watch the girls faces.    Sorry no sad smileys.

[daveyboi]

Whilst I agree with most of what has been said here the bit I can not understand is ...

Back in time ie 60's -80's these things were hushed up as we see time and time again... But unless he stopped in the more recent years which is most unlikely how on earth it was not brought to court before now.

[Poppy Mole]

Did I not read/hear that he threatened to stop raising money for Stoke Mandeville if anything was said? That being the case I can well imagine the furore that would have caused. Sadly it makes you wonder how many more are out there as a sex offender is only one who has been caught & convicted.

[Poolcue]

Watched Question Time last night and the inevitable COMPENSATION question came up.i wonder if this has anything to do with people coming out of the woodwork.
Whilst I do NOT condone what he has done what is the point of wasting resources on this case.He is dead and his reputation is shot,it would be better for the police etc to concentrate on current cases where a conviction is possible.

[betula]

Yes I think Melbourne has it about right.There seemed to be a climate of fear around him.There is power in numbers.How sad people did not have the nerve to confront this situation together.Particularly in the hospital situation.The mind boggles as to how he got away with it in that enviroment.

Glad to say I never liked him much.................

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

The rumours about hospital I heard meant that the victims weren't in a position to complain!

[antipodes]

The rumours about hospital I heard meant that the victims weren't in a position to complain!

This is the part I find most disgusting - groping and touching cancer patients and mentally ill girls? That is just vile and sick. And for that matter WHY did he have "rooms" in hospitals and care homes??? I find it unbelievable that someone would be granted such a thing. And I mean after all he was just a TV celebrity... what other influence did he have? information on other pedos? was he able to blackmail people in higher places?  It beggars belief.
Then again we see time and time again that it's still considered Ok to be a "dirty old man" because it's just harmless fun, pinching girls and making lewd remarks, isn't it? And if you don't like that you are humourless or frigid...  Maybe it was put down to "larking about".
In any case it must be a sorry disappointment to many people that had him on a pedestal (or is that pedo-stal?). Shame it comes out now when the person concerned is dead and buried.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

Erm..... even worse than that. Those involved would never be in a position to talk again!
But I don't know if the stories were true of course.

[Squash64]

I wish news reports would stop showing photos or clips of him. Surely everyone knows who he was
and quite honestly the sight of him makes me feel sick.

[Digeroo]

Saw a clip of him on Top of the Pops with Coleen Nolan, in hindsight it mades disturbing viewing.  Was it broadcast originally?  If it was millions of people did not notice.

I used to like his Jim'll Fix it programme, yet clips of it now seem to put his every move in a different light. 

Yet I find some aspects very disturbing.  The scale of it, the fact that it has come out after his death, so no chance of innocent until proved guilty, and the talk of millions of possible compensation. 

[elvis2003]

anyone see 'have i got news for you' last night? There was a fairly frank discussion re JS that was a far cry from the usual humorous tone of the show,showed a vile clip of him. When asked did he own a mobile home and what he did in there, he replied 'yes,and I did whatever I wanted in there' vile vile vile

[bridgehouse]

Children don't tell, so why oh why didn't adults tell . money, money,  money. he always gave me the creeps, now I know why.
June.