Episode 660: Jimmy Savile Part III - Built on a Lie

The third part of 'The Last Podcast on the Left' episode on Jimmy Savile delves into the final years of his life and the systemic collapse that allowed his decades-long reign of abuse to continue unchecked. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Savile weaponized his public persona as a charitable eccentric and national treasure—epitomized by his show 'Jim'll Fix It'—to gain access to vulnerable children and patients in institutions like Stoke Mandeville and Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital. His deep ties to the British establishment, including Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles, and Lord Mountbatten, provided him with political and royal protection, enabling him to manipulate institutions such as the BBC, NHS, and police. Despite repeated allegations and failed investigations—including Operation Ornament and a 2009 interview at Stoke Mandeville—Savile used his knighthood in 1990 as a shield, intimidating critics and silencing whistleblowers through legal threats. After his death in 2011, Operation Yew Tree uncovered over 589 reported assaults, though the true number is believed to be far higher. The episode exposes a culture where predators like Savile and Peter Sutcliffe protected one another, and institutions prioritized reputation over justice. The hosts reflect on the emotional weight of covering such dark stories, emphasizing the necessity of confronting evil, listening to survivors, and refusing to look away. They close with a message of resilience, highlighting community-building through live shows, Patreon, and creative projects like 'No Dogs in Space' and 'Bloodbath Hour: Vampire in the Masquerade,' turning trauma into connection and purpose.