DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile dies, aged 84
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Former DJ, TV presenter and charity fundraiser Sir Jimmy Savile has died, aged 84.
Savile, who was one of the most famous names on British TV and radio in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, died on Saturday.
Police said they were called to his home in Leeds, but that there was nothing suspicious about his death.
His family programme, Jim'll Fix It, drew in huge audiences and the programme received 20,000 letters a week at the height of its popularity.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were called to the house in Roundhay at 12:10 BST.
Details of how he died were not yet known, but he was recently in hospital with pneumonia.
Presenter Dave Lee Travis told Sky News: "We are all going to be worse off without him around."
Savile started out as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 and was the first host of Top of the Pops in 1964.
He also appeared on the music show's final edition in 2006.
His TV persona included chunky gold jewellery, a huge cigar, his trademark snowy white hair and a number of catch-phrases which were frequently parodied by impressionists such as Mike Yarwood.
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Savile was conscripted as a Bevin Boy, working in the coal mines during the war.
But he was one of the country's first DJs in the 1950s and began his broadcasting career at Radio Luxembourg before moving to the BBC.
Off screen he did a lot of charity work, running 200 marathons and raising £40m over the years.
Savile was knighted by the Queen in 1990 for his charity work.
Note Epgold
Very sad news indeed. He was a great Elvis supporter whom he met on several occasions. A larger than life character he will be sadly missed.
R.I.P. Jimmy.
Source; bbc.co.uk - Brian Quinn / EpGold
