Savile’s private letters to Mrs Thatcher made public

Some letters were censored because they were “personal” or “confidential”

11:00 30 December 2012

Savile’s letter to Margaret Thatcher, the one thing that is believed to be the beginning of their warm relationship, has been made public for the first time. However, their other correspondence, which includes letters and phone calls, has been censored. The National Archives at Kew released the letter under the 30-year rule.

Reports revealed that Jimmy Savile sent the then prime minister an adoring letter in 1980. Savile sang praises and declared his love for her. She responded by inviting him to lunch at Chequers. The then prime minister spent 11 consecutive New Year’s Eve with Savile. In addition, she also oversaw his knighthood.

 

The letter reads: ‘I waited a week before writing to thank you for my lunch invitation because I had such a superb time I didn’t want to be too effusive.
‘My girl patients pretended to be madly jealous and wanted to know what you wore and what you ate. All the paralysed lads called me “Sir James” all week.

They all love you. Me too!!’

 

Some exchanges between the pair were censored in October – eight days after claims that Savile sexually abused numerous people surfaced.