Jimmy Savile: Man, Monster, Celebrity

Abstract

The sudden transformation of Savile from a saint to a malevolent beast was accompanied by an explosion of allegations and rumours about his past. An analysis of Savile’s public performance of impression management indicates that he sought to cultivate the image of a classless entertainer who served as the voice of common people. His adoption by the British establishment as their ‘man of the people’ strengthened his influence. His success was in part supported by the way his Peter Pan image resonated with an infantilised popular culture.