Steve Coogan will play Jimmy Savile in The Reckoning, which premieres today on BBC One.
The four-part thriller stars Alan Partridge as the disgraced DJ, who died before his awful crimes as a child sex abuser and sex offender became public, with over 450 complaints filed against him after his death.
Given the magnitude of his crimes, there has been a strong pushback to The Reckoning, prompting the BBC to reply and emphasise that the extremely delicate subject was handled with extraordinary care.
Savile died on October 29, 2011, at the age of 84, at his penthouse home in Leeds, two days before his 85th birthday, following a brief stay in hospital, his cause of death certified as pneumonia.
His nephew Roger Foster said at the time that he ‘died away softly in his sleep during the night,’ and that the penthouse where he lived for much of his life has since been destroyed.
Speaking in an interview shortly before his death, Savile – who was still pictured smoking cigars before he died – said: ‘I’ve got a bounce back-ability, but this time I don’t seem to be bouncing back.’
Coogan recently defended The Reckoning, claiming that the drama’s makers and broadcasters made the “correct choice.”
‘It is controversial and I understand that,’ Coogan told Radio Times.
‘The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, and I believe the correct choice is to be damned if they do. Broadly, it’s better to talk about something than not.’
He added: ‘The team had the right attitude and it was done with the cooperation of survivors. I think when it’s broadcast, it will vindicate itself.’
The synopsis for the programme reads: ‘The four-part series will trace the life of Jimmy Savile, a man who, for decades, became one of the UK’s most influential celebrities, but in death has become one of the most reviled figures of modern history following revelations of extensive and horrific abuse.
‘Savile used his involvement in multiple organisations, such as the BBC, hospitals, prisons, and charities, to legitimise himself, forging friendships in showbusiness, politics, journalism, the Catholic Church and even the Royal family to cement his position.
‘Using drama’s unique ability to place events in their emotional and historical context, the series will explore how Savile used his celebrity and powerful connections to conceal his crimes and exploit institutional failings.
‘It is important to understand how he was able to hide in plain sight in order to gain a greater understanding of how he evaded justice.
‘The drama aims to highlight the importance of confronting the horrors of the past and talking openly about abuse.’
The Reckoning airs on October 9 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
