Amanda Holden, a judge on *Britain’s Got Talent*, recently recounted an unsettling encounter with the disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile during an interview with Alan Carr. The incident occurred when Holden was a teenager and visiting the hospital.
Savile, who was revealed posthumously in 2012 to be a prolific sex offender, had used his celebrity status to exploit and abuse hundreds of people, primarily women and children, throughout his career. A year after the disturbing revelations, Holden opened up about her experience with Savile while she was at the hospital for treatment.
During the interview, Holden explained that she had injured her finger while cutting a cake and went to the hospital with her boyfriend for treatment. “When I was 19, I cut my finger – I still have the scar,” she said. “So I went with my boyfriend, and they stitched it up and put a bandage on it. Then, this man pulled back the curtain and made a joke about me trying to take my own life by slicing my finger.”
Holden then realized the man was Savile, famously known for hosting *Jim’ll Fix It!*. She continued, recalling how Savile then asked her if she had any “gynaecological problems.” “Luckily, my boyfriend was there to witness it,” she said. “I said, ‘No,’ thinking it was bizarre. He smiled in a creepy way and said, ‘I can give you one!’”
While Holden initially brushed off the incident as an odd and harmless encounter, she later reflected on the encounter after learning about the full extent of Savile’s crimes. “At the time, I was just a student, and I thought it was a bizarre story. I went back to drama school and told everyone, but there was no real weight to it,” she said. “I’m not one of those poor people he’s hurt…” she trailed off, alluding to some of Savile’s horrific actions.
The full extent of Savile’s crimes was exposed by former detective-turned-investigator Mark Williams-Thomas in the ITV documentary *Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile*.
For those affected by similar issues, support is available from The Survivors Trust at 08088 010 818.
In conclusion, Amanda Holden’s recollection of her unsettling encounter with Jimmy Savile serves as a chilling reminder of the pervasive and sinister behavior that many, including public figures, can engage in when wielding power and fame. At the time of the incident, Holden, like many others, may not have fully recognized the disturbing nature of Savile’s actions. However, as the full scale of his horrific crimes against women and children was revealed years later, it forced Holden—and many others—to reflect on their own past interactions with him and reassess the gravity of those moments.
While Holden emphasized that she did not see herself as one of Savile’s victims, her story highlights the complex emotions that can arise from such experiences, particularly when an individual is young and may not understand the full implications of inappropriate behavior. It also underscores the importance of acknowledging and speaking out about such moments, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential they might appear at the time.
Savile’s posthumous exposure as one of the most notorious sexual predators in British history further exemplifies the danger of unchecked power, and the need for vigilance and accountability within institutions that were meant to protect vulnerable individuals. Through Holden’s account, we gain a deeper understanding of the manipulation and predatory behavior that was hidden in plain sight for so long.
Ultimately, Holden’s willingness to share her experience contributes to a broader conversation about abuse of power, the importance of supporting survivors, and the significance of reflecting on our own past experiences in the light of new information. By doing so, we ensure that such stories continue to be heard, and that efforts to prevent future abuses of power remain at the forefront of public consciousness. For anyone affected by similar issues, organizations like The Survivors Trust offer essential support, encouraging those who have experienced trauma to seek help and speak out, ensuring that their voices are never silenced.
