Jim'll Fix It

Development

The idea for a show based on viewers' requests came from the BBC's head of light entertainment, Bill Cotton, and the idea was originally offered to Harry Secombe, but he turned it down. The show was instead hosted by Top of the Pops presenter Jimmy Savile, who would "fix it" for the wishes of several viewers (usually children) to come true each week. The producer throughout the show's run was Roger Ordish, who later recalled that he had advised Cotton to choose a different presenter from Savile, saying "That was nothing to do with Jimmy Savile's moral behaviour, it had to do with his ability to communicate with young people. He did openly say: 'I hate children.'"

Format

The standard format was that the viewer's letter, which described their wish, would be shown on the screen and read out aloud, initially by Savile, but in later series by the viewers themselves as a voice-over. Savile would then introduce the Fix, which would either have been pre-filmed on location or take place "live" in the studio. At the end, the viewer would join Savile to be congratulated and presented with a large medal with the words "Jim Fixed It For Me" engraved on it. Occasionally, other people featured in the "Fix It" (actors from well known series, for example), might also give the viewer an extra gift somehow relating to the Fix. Savile himself played no part in the filming or recording of the "fix-its", unless specifically requested as part of the letter writer's wish. Some children apparently thought that Savile's first name was "Jim'll", so some letters shown on the programme started "Dear Jim'll".

Early series saw Savile distributing medals from a "magic chair" which concealed the medals in a variety of compartments. The "magic chair" was invented by Tony Novissimo and was built for the BBC by him at his workshops in Shepherd's Bush. The chair had first appeared on Savile's earlier Saturday night TV series, Clunk, Click. The chair was later replaced by a new computer-controlled robotic "magic chair", the brainchild of Kevin Warwick, built for the BBC by his team at the University of Reading. The arm for the chair was an RTX robotic arm,

Internally, the BBC were concerned that the show was providing excessive product placement for corporations.

Notable "Fix-its"

Following Savile's death in 2011, the BBC cited famous examples of "fix-its" from the show, including the group of cub scouts who were sent to eat a packed lunch on a rollercoaster at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and the young viewer who played drums with Adam and the Ants for a performance of their track "Kings Of The Wild Frontier".

The Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, appeared in the second episode, where he tore off and handed away the frayed ends of his scarf to girls visiting the studio. Ten years later, a young Doctor Who fan, Gareth Jenkins, took part in a short adventure titled A Fix with Sontarans with Colin Baker and Janet Fielding.

In 1976 Muhammad Ali appeared in a fix. Also that year, Rolf Harris, appeared on the show. Footage from this appearance was featured in the 2023 documentary Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight.

On 1 January 1977, Margaret Thatcher, then Leader of the Opposition, appeared in an episode when Savile introduced a group of children to her. In 1981, Savile asked her to appear on the show again. Thatcher, who was by this time prime minister, declined his request on that occasion.

Veteran actor Peter Cushing wrote to the show in 1986 to ask if a variety of rose could be named after his late wife; the 'Rose Helen Cushing' was the result. Also that year, a 14-year-old boy called Dom Lawson, who went on to work for Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines, got his wish to meet Iron Maiden and be their technician for a day. The episode was described in Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death tour book, where Lawson speaks about Iron Maiden and his history with the band.

Former glam rock singer and convicted child sexual abuser Gary Glitter appeared on Jim’ll Fix It several times, including in 1991.

2007 revival (''Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again'')

This new series saw the return of Savile and began on 5 April 2007 on UKTV Gold, and was titled Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again. The series showed classic moments from the original shows, and attempted to 're-fix' it for some of the original participants.

2011 special

The BBC announced on 14 November 2011, following Savile's death, that the show would return for a one-time Christmas special on 26 December 2011, featuring Shane Richie as the programme's host. Only letters for 'fix-its' from children under 14 were eligible for the revived format. Lewis Hamilton guest-starred in this episode, as well as Girls Aloud member Kimberley Walsh and opera singer Alfie Boe.

Theme song

The theme song was sung by voice-over artist Lynda Hayes. The closing theme was sung by the group Good Looks (featuring Lavinia & Lewis Rodgers, siblings of Clodagh Rodgers) who competed in the 1982 A Song for Europe competition. Savile "fixed it" for a young viewer to perform the song with the group on an edition of the show.

Sexual abuse scandal

Main article: Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal

Allegations surfaced in 2012 that Savile sexually abused some of the children who took part in Jim'll Fix It, including suggestions that special episodes of Jim'll Fix It were devised by Savile in order to gain access to victims. Ordish said, "I didn't see anything and nothing was reported to me", but added that he knew Savile had a "predilection for younger females". Reflecting on his own time producing the show, Ordish added, "It's of no significance really compared to the terrible things that happened to the victims, but in retirement, people say: 'What did you do?'. I'd say: 'I was a BBC producer … Jim'll Fix It, I did that for 20 years', and you used to get a wonderful reaction. Now it's something I can’t mention, you’re ashamed of it."

Transmission guide

Series

Specials

Compilations

• Series 2 Compilation: 17 April 1976
• Series 3 Compilation: 26 February 1977
• Series 4 Compilation: 25 March 1978
• Series 5 Compilation: 24 March 1979
• Series 6 Compilation: 22 March 1980
• Children in Need Compilation: 23 November 1984
• Series 13 Compilation: 27 August 1988
• Series 14 Compilation: 28 August 1989
• Series 15 Compilation: 25 August 1990
• Series 16 Compilation: 24 August 1991
• Series 17 Compilation: 29 August 1992
• Series 18 Compilation: 5 September 1993

References

References

1. Leigh, Spencer. (13 August 2008). "Sir Bill Cotton: Television executive who brought some of the BBC's most popular programmes to the screen". The Independent.
2. Elgot, Jessica. (27 February 2016). "Jim'll Fix It staff were told not to leave Savile alone with children". The Guardian.
3. "Inside the UMI RTX Robot Arm".
4. France, Anthony. (23 May 2023). "Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight on ITV review – a chilling documentary about a national disgrace". The Evening Standard.
5. "TV Interview for BBC1 Jim'll Fix It". margaretthatcher.org.
6. (28 December 2012). "Jimmy Savile sought Margaret Thatcher Stoke Mandeville help". BBC News.
7. Howe, Desson. (13 July 1986). "Peter Cushing-The Horror of It All". The Washington Post.
8. "Metal Hammer Iron Maiden – Jim'll Fix It – Dom Lawson Music Video on". Muzu.tv.
9. Lawson, Dom. (2 November 2011). "Jim fixed it for Iron Maiden and me". The Guardian.
10. (2 October 2012). "Creep Out: Gary Glitter goes on 'Jim'll Fix It'".
11. (15 November 2011). "Jim'll Fix It returns to BBC One for Christmas special". BBC News.
12. (2012-12-06). "Nicky Campbell donates fee for Jimmy Savile tribute show to charity".
13. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z0dsj Chris Evans Breakfast Show], [[BBC Radio 2]], broadcast 9 March 2011
14. O'Mahoney, Jennifer. (12 October 2012). "Jimmy Savile: BBC did nothing when director caught him in the act". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
15. (24 October 2012). "Jimmy Savile scandal: Alleged victims' stories". [[BBC]].
16. Marsden, Sam. (13 November 2012). "Jimmy Savile 'Engineered' His TV Shows to Abuse children". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
17. (17 October 2012). "Savile producer: "I knew nothing"". [[ITV (TV network).