The BBC Is Criticised For Upcoming Drama "The Reckoning" About Disgraced Jimmy Savile

The BBC has come under fire for producing a dramatisation of real events related to the life and crimes of disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.

The upcoming drama series, titled "The Reckoning", hitting screens on 9 October, will bring Savile's disgusting history of paedophilia to light, as well as details around how showbiz industry personalities and a string of other organisations and individuals protected his abusive behaviour for so long.

Back in 2012 – following Saville's death the year prior at the age of 84 – a documentary, "Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile", brought the allegations that he had abused hundreds of vulnerable young children and adults up to the age of 75 into the public domain. The ITV documentary detailed how his charitable involvement allowed him to pray on the vulnerable, and looked into decades of claims of sexual abuse, and further allegations of abuse against Saville. It is believed that he abused around 500 people since 1965, with the youngest just two years old at the time, according to The Independent.

Now, the upcoming drama is proving divisive for its decision to involve real survivors of Savile's crimes, as well as re-hashing the traumatic events for the purposes of entertainment. According to The Sun, four survivors who were abused by the presenter will be "interviewed on camera to offer their further insight and to reflect on their experiences in the hope that the telling of their stories will prevent something like it happening again".

Some people have argued that "The Reckoning" will provide the BBC with a money-making platform off the back of his crimes, when he initially featured on BBC's "Jim'll Fix It" and "Top of the Pops". "Find it hard to swallow that the BBC are going to show The Reckoning a drama showing jimmy saville's vile story when it was them that financed this monster's whole career whilst knowing what he was up to," said one Twitter user. BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead said the BBC "failed" victims of Savile following an independent inquiry in October 2012. She said, via The Guardian, "It turned a blind eye, where it should have shone a light. And it did not protect those who put their trust in it."

During filming – which started in November 2021 in Manchester – the BBC established a duty of care, which included inviting survivors to the set in a bid to prove that the story was being handled with sensitivity. One survivor, Sam Brown, said that Steve Coogan's performance (who plays Saville in the series) is "creepy, weird, awful" and "disgusting", according to Deadline.

BBC boss Charlotte Moore said in a statement about the series: "It would not be right for me to censor ideas from very respected writers who have written about similar subjects in the past." The BBC also added that it "worked closely with many people whose lives were impacted by Savile" in the series.

What Is "The Reckoning" Plot?

As per the official BBC synopsis, "The Reckoning" is set to "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 show business, politics, journalism, the Catholic Church and even the Royal family to cement his position."

IMDB also adds that the series will start by looking back on Savile's "working class roots", before addressing his success as a TV presenter at the broadcasting house, as well as how he managed to hide his sexually abusive crimes.

Who Is in "The Reckoning" Cast?

Coogan will be playing Savile, while "Happy Valley" stars Siobhan Finneran and Mark Stanlet also appear in the show. "The Reckoning" will also see BAFTA award-winner Gemma Jones, "Outlander"'s Mark Lewis Jones, and "EastEnders" actor Sandra James-Young on the screen.

When Is "The Reckoning"'s Release Date?

"The Reckoning" premieres on 9 October.