Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

TV Interview for BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: House of Commons
Source:
Journalist: Jimmy Savile, BBC
Editorial comments:

1000. The programme was broadcast on 1 January 1977. Untraced in BBC archives, but found on YouTube (15 Apr 2022).

Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 392
Themes: Media

[Jimmy Savile with a group of children stands outside a large dark wood office door]

Savile:

You can knock on the door.

MT:

[opens door, crouching down a little to the children] Hello, welcome, come in.

[Savile tells the children to introduce themselves; exact words inaudible]

MT:

You are Lucy [MT shakes hands with Lucy]

[film cuts to MT’s office, she is sitting in an armchair facing children on a sofa]

Unnamed girl (?Jane):

When you were small did you ever want to be the Prime Minister?

MT:

No. [pauses slightly] When I was small I don't think one thought there could ever be a woman Prime Minister of Britain. You know we didn't Jimmy in those days, did we?

Savile:

No, but we always hoped.

MT:

We always hoped, all right!

Savile:

[speaking over MT] : And you will have to fix it Thatcher.

MT:

Women have come on so much during my lifetime. I still haven't quite made it to No.10 Downing Street but I just hope that I will do it one day.

Savile:

The young people have had such a marvellous time. These badges are Jim’ll Fix It badges you see, that when they have it fixed for them they get them awarded, so might I ask you to hand them one each?

[hands MT badges attached to red ribbons]

MT:

Of course.

Savile:

And it is Jane’s first.

MT:

[handing it to Jane] Can you pop it over your head? [Jane puts the badge over her head]

MT:

That’s right, let’s have it facing front.

Savile:

[talking over MT, a few words inaudible] And one for Philip.

MT:

That’s right. I think they might have got two with blue ribbon on, don't you? Still – there.

Savile:

That was a slip up, wasn’t it?

MT:

Never mind

Savile:

One for Alice. Lean forward Alice.

MT:

[MT hands to badge to Alice] The colour of the red rose.

Savile:

You stand up Fred. Stand up Fred. One for Charlie from China. [Fred giggles]

MT:

That’s fine. There. Don't I get one?

Savile:

Well, actually …

MT:

I thought you were going to fix my getting into No.10.

Savile:

I have already done so! But I was going to see you privately about that because I wouldn't want too many people to realise how I had done it. Because they could [words inaudible, MT speaking over him] … Prime Minister

MT:

[MT smiling] Well, then you have given me a Jim … well, a Jim has fixed it for me. All right!

Savile:

Indeed.