Tributes pour in for Jimmy Saville

The “larger than life” veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile has died aged 84.

The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim’ll Fix It, was found at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, just after midday today – just two days before his 85th birthday.

His death came after a spell in hospital earlier this month with a suspected bout of pneumonia.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes to the star - who was described by some as a “court jester”.

A Clarence House spokeswoman, said: “The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death and their thoughts are with his family at this time.”

It is not known how Sir Jimmy died but it is believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a “larger than life” character who was dedicated to charity work.

Sir Jimmy started his working life as a miner in his native Yorkshire before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and DJ.

He has raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.

Radio presenter David Hamilton said that Sir Jimmy worked “tirelessly” to raise funds for various causes.

“He was a very energetic character,” Mr Hamilton told Sky News.

“But most of all, I remember him as just a totally flamboyant, over the top, larger than life character and as he was on the air, he was just the same off.”

Sir Jimmy raised £20m for the creation of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1983 following damage caused by severe weather to the old pre-fab wooden huts which had housed spinal cord injury patients.

He was a volunteer at the hospital and ran more than 200 marathons for various charitable organisations.

A spokeswoman for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – which runs the hospital – said: “Sir Jimmy has been a great supporter of Stoke Mandeville Hospital for a number of decades.

“He was tireless in his attempts to fundraise for the hospital and was integral in the creation of the National Spinal Injuries Centre that we have today. Sir Jimmy will be sorely missed by staff and patients alike.”

Radio presenter Paul Burnett told Sky News that Sir Jimmy’s charity work was a “two way street”, adding: “He didn’t have a family as such and so when he took on a charity, that became his family.

“He did a lot of work as a porter in the hospital that he collected money for. He would go there at night and work as a porter and I think he loved the people that he worked with, it wasn’t just for the publicity, but he knew the charities were doing well out of it as well.

“He was capable of acts of great kindness.”

Mr Burnett added: “You didn’t really ever get to know ’the man’ because he was a showman, and like so many showmen that’s it that’s their main thing in life and he did it brilliantly.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were called to a house in Leeds this afternoon.

The spokesman said: “Police were called at 12.10pm today to the discovery of a man’s body at a house in Roundhay, Leeds.

“The body of a man in his 80s was found at the property.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.”

This afternoon, two community support officers guarded the entrance to the exclusive apartments where Sir Jimmy lived.

The officers stopped visitors to the Lake View Court block of flats before letting them into the grounds.

The six-storey cream-coloured building is situated on the edge of Roundhay Park, overlooking a lake.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at hearing about the news.

Len Silverman, 90, who has lived in the six-storey complex for 11 years, said he had got to know Sir Jimmy well.

Mr Silverman said: “You could never speak seriously to Jimmy, it was always full of quips. He was a good man, he’d do anyone a good turn.

“I’ll remember him as someone you can always talk to and have a laugh with. He was very friendly.

“He will be terribly missed by everyone here.”

A woman leaving the apartments after visiting a friend said she had seen Sir Jimmy in a restaurant about two weeks ago and claimed he seemed ill.

She said: “He was really, really poorly. He really should not have been out. It’s the first time in all the times we’ve seen him that he didn’t have a joke.

“You could tell he was really ill yet he was still dressed in his string vest in a smart restaurant.

“I’m really sorry he’s gone, we’ll all miss him. He was a character.”

She added: “He always used to say to me and my friend – who are both in our nineties – when we used to be going out and we’d bump into him, he’d say, ’are you clubbing, girls?”’

A few people laid flowers at the entrance to the apartments.

One woman, who said she knew Sir Jimmy when he used to work at a nightclub in Leeds, sobbed and hugged a friend as she placed her bouquet on the ground.

“He was just a really, really nice man,” she said.

Sir Jimmy owned a penthouse apartment on the top floor of the building with a balcony offering views across the park.

Today, wooden blinds on the floor-to-ceiling windows were closed.

Two of Sir Jimmy's nephews said their uncle died peacefully in his sleep last night.

Roger Foster and Ian McKenna paid tribute to Sir Jimmy outside his flat.

Mr Foster said: “It is with deep sadness that I can tell you that our uncle Sir Jimmy Savile passed away quietly in his sleep during the night.

“Jimmy was a wonderful man, his public face is well-known but we knew him as much more than an uncle, he was a very good friend.

“Jimmy will be sadly missed by very many people.

“We would like to thank the people who have already offered their condolences.”

Celebrities paid tribute to the star on Twitter.

Classical singer Katherine Jenkins said: “Sad news Jimmy Savile has passed away. My sis & I always wanted a Jim’ll Fix it badge/medal. Loved that show. Great memories £RIPJimmySavile.”

Apprentice star Lord Sugar tweeted: “Sad news on the death of Jimmy Savile very funny man and did loads of work for charity, RIP.”

Comedian Ricky Gervais said: “RIP Jimmy Savile My first guest on my first TV show. A proper British eccentric.

Former deputy Labour leader Lord Prescott tweeted: “Sad to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death. Tireless fundraiser and a real character. £nowthennowthen.”

Broadcaster Stuart Hall said on BBC Radio 5live that Sir Jimmy was “unique” but “a loner”.

He added: “He had lots of imitators, the one and only Jimmy Savile.”

Former radio colleague Tony Blackburn said Sir Jimmy was a “big, over the top personality”.

“He was quite a character,” Mr Blackburn told Sky News.

“I think he will be best remembered for his charity work, and you know those tracksuits he always used to wear, and he was just an unusual person.

“He was a one-off – that’s the way he’ll be remembered, really – but in particular all that money he raised for charity.”

BBC director general Mark Thompson said he was “very sad” to hear the news.

“From Top Of The Pops to Jim’ll Fix It, Jimmy’s unique style entertained generations of BBC audiences,” he said.

“Like millions of viewers and listeners we shall miss him greatly.

John Myers, the chief executive of the UK radio sector industry body, the Radio Academy, said Sir Jimmy’s death was a “great loss” to the UK radio industry.

He said: “He was one of the pioneers of modern pop music radio.

“He made the smooth transfer from Radio Luxembourg to the BBC in the late 1960s and from 1997 moved his broadcasts to commercial radio, where he continued to be successful and well respected by radio audiences around the UK.”

Charles Kennedy, former Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, added: “He was a true and long-standing friend to the West Highlands over decades of diligence and decency.

“It was a privilege to follow on from him as Chieftain of the Lochaber Games and I salute his commitment to the local mountain rescue teams.

“Indeed, when not resident at his home in Glencoe – which he bought from the legendary Hamish MacInnes – he made it available for mountain rescue use.

“It was typical of the man that he never drew attention to such characteristic generosity. A sad loss indeed.”

A memorial and book of condolence to Sir Jimmy has been set up in Savile’s Hall, opposite the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

The foyer of the hall will also feature a life-size poster of Sir Jimmy in his trademark Jim’ll Fix It chair, which was bought by the hall off ebay three years ago.

James Vincent, managing director of Royal Armouries International, said: “Sir Jimmy was a great friend and a driving force for us and we want to pay tribute to the man.

“He was a legend, an extraordinary larger than life character.

“We share the grief of his passing and hope his loyal local fans will appreciate this as a fitting place in which to honour his memory and lay any flowers or mementoes.”

Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, also paid tribute to the broadcaster.

Cllr Wakefield said: “This is very sad news.

“Sir Jimmy Savile was Leeds born and bred and he remained a Leeds lad throughout his life.

“He was a much-loved and well-known figure – a larger than life character and an inspiration to many, particularly the children of the city.

“His enormous contribution to charity will never be forgotten. We are proud to have someone like him, who did so much for so many, come from Leeds.”