Girl Writes to Jimmy Saville for a Sailing Wish — and Sails With Prince Andrew

What are the odds that writing a letter as a kid could land you on a navy ship with royalty? For one British girl in the 1980s, her simple wish set off an unbelievable chain of events involving two famous names: Jimmy Saville and Prince Andrew.

The Power of the “Jimmy Saville Wish” on Jim’ll Fix It

Back in its heyday, the BBC show “Jim’ll Fix It” was all about turning ordinary kids’ dreams into reality. Children from all over the UK would write letters—sometimes hundreds per week—hoping their special requests would be chosen. The host, Jimmy Saville, became famous for granting these wishes in wild and unexpected ways.

One day, a girl wrote in with her own dream: she wanted to go sailing. Nothing too outrageous—just an adventure out on the water. But when it came time for her “Jimmy Saville wish” to be granted, producers had something much bigger in mind than just any old sailboat.

Sailing Wish Story Takes an Unexpected Turn

Instead of arranging a local boat trip or even a day at sea with an instructor, “Jim’ll Fix It” pulled some serious strings. The girl was invited aboard an actual Royal Navy vessel—one commanded by none other than Prince Andrew himself. At that time, Prince Andrew served as an officer in the Royal Navy and was known for his hands-on approach with both his crew and visitors.

You can imagine her surprise when she stepped onto the deck and saw who’d be leading her adventure. This wasn’t just any sailing trip; it was full-on naval experience guided by British royalty.

Behind-the-Scenes of BBC Show Surprises

The magic of “Jim’ll Fix It” was always about more than just granting wishes—it was about going above and beyond expectations. Here’s how shows like this often made such moments happen:

• Careful screening of thousands of letters for unique or heartwarming stories
• Collaborating with celebrities and public figures willing to participate
• Coordinating with organizations like the Royal Navy for access and logistics
• Keeping details secret from children until reveal day for maximum surprise
• Filming everything so families (and viewers) could share in the magic

In this case, all these elements came together perfectly—the right wish met the right connections at just the right time.

Anecdote: Memories That Last

Stories like this sometimes resurface online years later—as seen recently on Reddit via [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1nv4san/girl_writes_to_jimmy_saville_jimll_fix_it_to_fix/). People shared memories about watching “Jim’ll Fix It,” marveling at how simple ideas turned into legendary TV moments. For anyone who grew up in that era or has ever written hopeful letters as a child, it’s easy to relate.

Imagine sending off your handwritten note and expecting maybe a postcard back…only for the BBC cameras to show up at your door weeks later! For that young sailor-to-be, meeting Prince Andrew probably wasn’t even on her radar—but it became part of her life story forever.

The Legacy of Unusual Wishes Granted

While both Jimmy Saville and Prince Andrew have since become controversial figures for very different reasons (which we won’t get into here), there’s no denying that these kinds of TV moments left their mark on viewers and participants alike. The idea that any kid could see their dream come true—even in ways they never imagined—captured imaginations across generations.

So next time you hear about someone making an unusual request or aiming high with their wishes, remember this story. Sometimes life (and television) throws unexpected adventures your way—complete with royalty on board!

What would you have asked for if you’d written your own letter to “Jim’ll Fix It”?