In plain sight : the life and lies of Jimmy Savile

Winner of the 2015 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2015 CWA Non-Fiction Dagger Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and the James Tait Black Prize Dan Davies has spent more than a decade on a quest to find the real Jimmy Savile, and interviewed him extensively over a period of seven years before his death. In the course of his quest, he spent days and nights at a time quizzing Savile at his homes in Leeds and Scarborough, lunched with him at venues ranging from humble transport cafes to the Athenaeum club in London and, most memorably, joined him for a short cruise aboard the QE2. Dan thought his quest had come to an end in October 2011 when Savile's golden coffin was lowered into a grave dug at a 45-degree angle in a Scarborough cemetery. He was wrong. In the last two and a half years, Dan has been interviewing scores of people, many of them unobtainable while Jimmy was alive. What he has discovered was that his instincts were right all along and behind the mask lay a hideous truth. Jimmy Savile was not only complex, damaged and controlling, but cynical, calculating and predatory. He revelled in his status as a Pied Piper of youth and used his power to abuse the vulnerable and underage, all the while covering his tracks by moving into the innermost circles of the establishment. PART ONE 1. Apocalypse now then 2. Frisk him 3. Not again child 4. The first brick 5. The world was completely black 6. Specialist subject: ‘Jimmy Savile’ 7. They felt they were in control 8. The power of oddness 9. Old and infirm 10. ‘Power’ is the wrong word 11. I didn’t ask 12. Look up, you bastard PART TWO 13. Oscar ‘The Duke’ 14. Smokescreen 15. Didn’t die, very good 16. All front and no back 17. Scumbags and slags 18. Sonderkommandos 19. Someone the kids could look up to 20. Little slaves 21. A lot worse if it was true 22. Project DJ PART THREE 23. Nostalgic memories 24. The only punter you can recognise from the back 25. Let ’em think 26. A cross between a Beatle and an Aldwych farce curate 27. A dead straight pull time 28. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings 29. An old man even then 30. TCP tonight 31. Good enough to eat 32. They know I’m honest 33. Eins, zwei, drei in the sky 34. More insidious than filth PART FOUR 35. Young crumpet that would knock your eyes out 36. A bloody saint 37. It’s obscene 38. The best five days of my life 39. Pied Piper 40. The only thing you can expect from pigs 41. We always line our artists up 42. A particularly religious moment 43. The 1976 temptation 44. Your porter hurt me 45. Am I saved? PART FIVE 46. Rewriting history 47. Sir James 48. All sorts of trouble 49. I wouldn’t let the side down 50. Like a Stradivarius 51. SOS – Same Old Shit 52. I am the boss – it’s as simple as that 53. 50 million, give or take a few quid 54. Runners are junkies 55. Off the hook 56. And a bit of leg-over and chips 57. Ultimate freedom 58. A void PART SIX 59. The wrong idea forever 60. Operation Ornament 61. The policy 62. Piss and shite 63. Mistakes were made 64. Two 16-year-old girls from the Ukraine 65. The last great gimmick 66. In the palm of his hand 67. No local connection 68. All that remains Endnotes Select Bibliography Acknowledgements Dan Davies Has Spent More Than Twenty-five Years On A Quest To Find The Real Jimmy Savile, And Interviewed Him Extensively Over A Period Of Seven Years Before His Death. In The Course Of His Quest, He Spent Days And Nights At A Time Quizzing Savile At His Homes In Leeds And Scarborough, Lunched With Him At Venues Ranging From Humble Transport Cafes To The Athenaeum Club In London And, Most Memorably, Joined Him For A Short Cruise Aboard The Qe2. Dan Thought His Quest Had Come To An End In October 2011 When Savile's Golden Coffin Was Lowered Into A Grave Dug At A 45-degree Angle In A Scarborough Cemetery. He Was Wrong. In The Last Two And A Half Years, Dan Has Been Interviewing Scores Of People, Many Of Them Unobtainable While Jimmy Was Alive. What He Has Discovered Was That His Instincts Were Right All Along And Behind The Mask Lay A Hideous Truth. Jimmy Savile Was Not Only Complex, Damaged And Controlling, But Cynical, Calculating And Predatory. He Revelled In His Status As A Pied Piper Of Youth And Used His Power To Abuse The Vulnerable And Underage, All The While Covering His Tracks By Moving Into The Innermost Circles Of The Establishment--publisher's Description. Dan Davies. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Biografie van de omstreden Britse presentator, diskjockey en filantroop (1926-2011)