Margaret Thatcher insisted Jimmy Savile be knighted despite pleas from her concerned aides
MARGARET Thatcher fought for Jimmy Savile to be knighted repeatedly, despite her concerned aides warning her he was a "strange and complex man," sensational new documents have revealed.
Previously unseen Cabinet Office documents from Lady Thatcher's premiership reveal advisers' "worries" about Savile being made a "Sir" against a backdrop of "unfortunate revelations" about his private life.
However, the television star was knighted for his services to charity in 1990.
Evidence the disgraced Jim'll Fix It presenter sexually abused scores of victims caused the Honours Forfeiture Committee to look into the possibility that he brought the honours system into disrepute.
Lady Thatcher apparently tried to knight Savile several times before succeeding in her final year of office, documents obtained by The Sun newspaper have revealed.
Correspondence from her aides dating back decades, also expose concerns about bestowing the honour upon the DJ – with advisers repeatedly having to warn the former Prime Minister against bestowing the accolade on Savile four times.
Thatcher was described as being “most disappointed” when she saw Savile was not on the New Year’s honours shortlist in 1986.
One adviser's letter to the PM, published in The Sun today, stated: "Mr Savile is a strange and complex man."
It adds: "Fears have been expressed that Mr Savile might not be able to refrain from exploiting a knighthood in a way which brought the honours system into disrepute."
Another letter, from Mrs Thatcher's then private secretary, repeated the concerns. It added: "We have again considered the name of Mr Jimmy Savile, whom you have of course considered on previous occasions.
"We have again concluded that he should not be recommended."
We have again concluded that he should not be recommended
Savile raised more than £30 million for charities, including £12 million to rebuild the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
He died in October 2011, only to be revealed as one of Britain's most prolific sex abusers the following year.
More than 200 offences have since been recorded against the disgraced TV presenter.
Of his victims, 73 per cent were children, with youngsters aged as young as eight when they were targeted.
Police investigating the horrific crimes have described the deceased DJ as a “predatory paedophile and manipulative liar.”
The BBC has incredibly spent almost £5milllion of licence payers’ money on investigating the sex abuse scandal and its aftermath, it emerged yesterday.