Part One: Jimmy Savile: Britain's Unending Nightmare
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This episode of 'Behind the Bastards' dives into the disturbing life and legacy of Jimmy Savile, Britain's most notorious and prolific sexual predator, whose crimes spanned decades and were enabled by his immense fame and institutional access. Robert Evans and guest Courtney Kosak unpack Savile's early life in Leeds, marked by a fabricated narrative of illness and neglect, his upbringing in a working-class Catholic family, and his early immersion in a world of crime, war profiteering, and adult entertainment. The episode reveals how Savile's fascination with power, control, and death—evident in his obsession with corpses and his early use of hypnotism—foreshadowed his later predatory behavior. His career as a DJ and cyclist, built on eccentricity and self-promotion, gave him access to vulnerable young people, particularly teenage girls, whom he exploited under the guise of mentorship and friendship. The episode dismantles the myth of Savile as a 'secret' predator, showing instead that his behavior was widely known, dismissed, or ignored due to his celebrity and the complicity of institutions like the BBC and the NHS. The narrative builds toward a chilling portrait of a man who weaponized his public persona to groom and abuse hundreds, all while maintaining a veneer of respectability and national service. The episode ends on a haunting note, setting up Part Two to explore how Savile’s crimes were systematically covered up by powerful institutions and individuals, including Margaret Thatcher, and how his legacy continues to haunt British culture. The hosts emphasize that Savile was never a 'hidden' monster—he was a man who flaunted his perversions, and the public, media, and authorities chose to look away. The episode is a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked fame, institutional complicity, and the normalization of predatory behavior in eras where power and privilege shielded abusers from accountability.
Savile’s predatory behavior was not a secret; it was widely known and ignored due to his fame and social power.
His early life was marked by fabricated trauma and a deep need for attention, which fueled his lifelong obsession with control and power.
Savile used his eccentricity and public persona as a shield, turning his weirdness into a brand that allowed him to bypass social and legal boundaries.
Institutions like the BBC and NHS were systematically groomed and corrupted by Savile, enabling his access to victims for decades.
The episode challenges the myth of Savile as a 'hidden' predator, instead portraying him as a man who openly bragged about his crimes and was celebrated for it.
Introduction and the Myth of the Hidden Predator
Robert Evans introduces the episode, discussing the widespread demand for a deep dive into Jimmy Savile from British listeners. He challenges the common narrative that Savile’s crimes were hidden, arguing instead that his predatory behavior was obvious to those who paid attention. The episode begins with a promotional segment for Cool Zone Media’s Webby Award nominations, followed by a brief conversation with guest Courtney Kosak about her book 'Girl Gone Wild,' which is thematically relevant to the episode’s focus on exploitation in entertainment.
Savile's Early Life: Fabrication and the Birth of a Monster
The episode delves into Savile’s childhood in Leeds, exposing the contradictions in his autobiography. Robert and Courtney examine the conflicting stories about his near-death illness, the role of his mother Agnes, and the family’s actual financial stability. They highlight how Savile crafted a narrative of being an unwanted, sickly child to justify his later need for attention and control. The discussion includes his early exposure to crime through his father’s association with a bookie, his experiences during WWII, and the formative years spent in a war camp and later in the Mecca Locarno Ballroom, where he was immersed in a world of prostitution and black market activity.
The Bevan Boy Myth and the Cult of Oddness
The episode critically examines Savile’s claim of being a Bevan boy—a coal miner during WWII—arguing that the timeline and physical evidence contradict his story. Robert and Courtney explore the famous tale of Savile working naked in the mine and emerging clean, a performance designed to shock and alienate. This moment is presented as a foundational experience where Savile learned that being 'odd' could be a source of power and attention. The hosts question whether the mining injury was real or fabricated, suggesting it was a convenient lie to bolster his image as a working-class hero.
The Birth of a DJ and the Control of the Crowd
“That one person, me, was doing something to all these people. And that's really the thing that triggered me off and sustained me for the rest of my days.”
The Early Exploitation of Teenage Girls
“I was far too excited about leaving school the following month.”
“He was not a secret. He was a man who bragged about it. And the whole time, no one cared.”
“I was far too excited about leaving school the following month.”
“He's like the most that guy looks like a pedophile, pedophile in the history of fucking pedophiles.”
Host
Guest
Jimmy Savile
person
Robert Evans
person
Courtney Kosak
person
BBC
organization
Girl Gone Wild
book
Agnes Savile
person
NHS
organization
iHeartRadio
organization
Mecca Locarno Ballroom
place
Dan Davies
person
Part One: The Phil Spector Episodes
Behind the Bastards • 1h 6m • 3/31/2026
Part Two: The Phil Spector Episodes
Behind the Bastards • 1h 12m • 4/2/2026
Part Three: The Phil Spector Episodes
Behind the Bastards • 1h 25m • 4/7/2026
Part Four: The Phil Spector Episodes
Behind the Bastards • 1h 16m • 4/9/2026
It Could Happen Here Weekly 227
Behind the Bastards • 3h 23m • 4/11/2026
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