Sir Jimmy Savile: 5,000 Fans Queue In The Rain To See Entertainer's Coffin (Pictures)

Funeral For Sir Jimmy Savile After 5,000 Queue In The Rain To See Coffin (Pictures)

Veteran DJs and TV stars are expected to join the friends and family of Sir Jimmy Savile along with hundreds of his fans for the broadcasting legend's funeral.

Representatives of the charities for which Sir Jimmy raised millions of pounds will also join well-wishers at the Roman Catholic St Anne's Cathedral, in his home city of Leeds, for a Requiem Mass.

Three days of mourning and celebrations of the life of the larger-than-life character kicked off on Tuesday when around 5,000 people queued in the rain outside The Queens Hotel, in the city, to view his gold-coloured coffin.

His cortege will drive around some of his favourite places before arriving at the cathedral for the service, which will be led by the Rt Rev Arthur Roche, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds.

The procession will visit his mother's house and the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The Mass will include a series of eulogies to Sir Jimmy, who died last month at the age of 84.

One will be from Professor Alistair Hall, a cardiologist at Leeds General Infirmary who became his friend. Tributes from his best friend Howard Silverman and nephew Roger Foster will also be among the eulogies.

Sir Jimmy will be buried on Thursday following more public ceremonials in Scarborough, the seaside town he loved and where he had a home. According to his last wishes, he will be buried at a 45-degree angle overlooking the sea.

Sir Jimmy, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops, was found dead at his flat in Roundhay, Leeds, just two days before his 85th birthday.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led tributes to the star.

See pictures below...

Close

What's Hot