Steve Coogan to play Jimmy Savile in BBC One drama

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58699058

Comedian and actor Steve Coogan is to play the disgraced late TV personality Jimmy Savile in a new BBC One drama.

The Reckoning, a mini-series, will tell the story of the presenter's rise and the sexual abuse scandal that emerged after his death.

The BBC said the team behind the drama had worked closely with those impacted by Savile to ensure their stories were told with "sensitivity and respect".

Coogan said he had not taken the decision to play Savile "lightly".

Savile was one of the UK's top entertainers in the 1970s and 80s, known for TV shows like Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It, as well as stints on BBC Radio 1.

After his death in 2011, an ITV documentary investigated claims of sexual abuse against him, leading to further allegations of abuse and a string of public inquiries.

These found that the broadcaster had leveraged his involvement in organisations, such as charities, hospitals, prisons and the BBC, to prey on hundreds of people - mostly vulnerable young females.

Coogan is best known for playing comedy roles, especially the part of hapless presenter Alan Partridge, but has also taken on dramatic roles in films such as Stan and Ollie and Philomena.

He said: "To play Jimmy Savile was not a decision I took lightly. Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively an horrific story which - however harrowing - needs to be told."

In 2016, an independent investigation found that the BBC missed opportunities to stop "monstrous" abuse by the presenter and DJ because of a "culture of fear".

The Dame Janet Smith review identified 72 victims of Savile in connection with his work at the BBC, including eight who were raped. Eleven of his victims were younger than 12 years old.

The BBC was also criticised for dropping a Newsnight investigation into the sexual abuse claims - which was then picked up by ITV. The corporation's former director general, George Entwistle, later admitted to MPs this had been the wrong decision.

BBC 'missed chances to stop abuse'
BBC regrets dropped Savile story
The Reckoning will be written by Neil McKay, who was also behind Appropriate Adult - the Bafta-winning drama about serial killer Fred West.

He and executive producer Jeff Pope also worked on Moorside, about the disappearance of Shannon Matthews; and the forthcoming Four Lives, on the murders of four young gay men by Stephen Port.

The drama will be directed by Sandra Goldbacher and produced by ITV Studios.

Pope said: "The purpose of this drama is to explore how Savile's offending went unchecked for so long, and in shining a light on this, to ensure such crimes never happen again. Steve Coogan has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity."

On so many levels why oh why is Coogan doing this....? And BBC trying to profit from the Saville "case" (whichever way the case is looked at). I doubt the "sensitivity" being talked about will extend to Saville's family.

I actually hate these kinds of drama that feed off relatively recent events. I have no idea what JS did or didn't do; and - as well as no interest in this - no interest in a speculative drama on the subject.

This will be a dramatisation based on media portrayal; a double work of fiction. I predict worthy BAFTAS for Coogan; perhaps this is the point.

AH-HA!

Wyot wrote:
On so many levels why oh why is Coogan doing this....? And BBC trying to profit from the Saville "case" (whichever way the case is looked at). I doubt the "sensitivity" being talked about will extend to Saville's family.

I actually hate these kinds of drama that feed off relatively recent events. I have no idea what JS did or didn't do; and - as well as no interest in this - no interest in a speculative drama on the subject.

This will be a dramatisation based on media portrayal; a double work of fiction. I predict worthy BAFTAS for Coogan; perhaps this is the point.

AH-HA!

Coogan is a good actor but nothing outstanding. This Savile thing is just cheap gig for him. All he has do is put on a wig, daft voice and act obnoxious and a bit odd like; just he does in real life and when plays Alan Partridge.

I saw Steve Coogan live and it was not a good night, people were just laughing to be polite I did sensed. Some bloke was reading his programme times over during the performance.

When it was the interval some people left and others wanted to leave. It picked up a lot when he did Alan Partridge but it was something he should of done much sooner in the set.

Sadly we will never know the real truth about Savile for various reasons. He manipulated police interviews, celebrities came out to say things about him but didn't. John Lydon mentioned him in an interview back in the day that wasn't aired. I wouldn't be surprised if it was all true !

My brother in law saw Savile at Leeds UTD games a few times, he told me that Jim is "is and was very odd and weird looking".

I fear your brother in law is making up a story Green Man, or he was mistaken with the many SJS fancy dress outfits that were worn at Leeds Utd matches. He never ever attended a football match.

I can't say everything is lies, but this is and goes to prove how much "hear say" there is out there.

I'd fill a book there are so many and with concrete evidence. Alas, it doesn't fit anyone's narrative does it?

I think Coogan is terrific and hope he and the TV people will dare showing both sides of the story. Just because someone is dead doesn't mean a decent, honest film can lie. The reality is - YES there were many allegations against him, almost all after his death and the vast majority ludicrous lies. YES he did a huge amount for charity and was an incredible hard worker making people less miserable. YES he was not my type of DJ or TV personality at all - I couldn't stand him on TV or Radio but YES - the one time I actually spent a day with him that was not a professional engagement, I thought he was bloody nearly a saint. Hopefully Coogan will incorporate all that.

They cut out brief clips of him innocently introducing acts on Top of the pops in case it "triggers" his "victims" yet they are presumably ok with watching a "reconstruction" of the alleged abuse?
How can that be?

Honey wrote:
They cut out brief clips of him innocently introducing acts on Top of the pops in case it "triggers" his "victims" yet they are presumably ok with watching a "reconstruction" of the alleged abuse?
How can that be?

Follow the money Honey! A successful drama they can sell abroad as part of the money-making end of the BBC. Cutting JS from TOTP virtue signals and costs them nothing.

Wyot wrote:
Honey wrote:
They cut out brief clips of him innocently introducing acts on Top of the pops in case it "triggers" his "victims" yet they are presumably ok with watching a "reconstruction" of the alleged abuse?
How can that be?

Follow the money Honey! A successful drama they can sell abroad as part of the money-making end of the BBC. Cutting JS from TOTP virtue signals and costs them nothing.

Except their reputation.

Jeff Pope said in an 2014 interview “I love that you can tell a really fascinating story but if you can end it with a caption that reminds the audience that all actually happened, it is suddenly so much more interesting and poignant."
However, no one really knows what happened with JS. Nor is Anna Raccoon’s forensic research that debunked the Duncroft Approved School allegations widely known.
www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/...es-good-wins-6723436

Amanda wrote:
I fear your brother in law is making up a story Green Man, or he was mistaken with the many SJS fancy dress outfits that were worn at Leeds Utd matches. He never ever attended a football match.

I can't say everything is lies, but this is and goes to prove how much "hear say" there is out there.

I'd fill a book there are so many and with concrete evidence. Alas, it doesn't fit anyone's narrative does it?

You're probably right but I wasn't there. Personally I don't care if Jim was a football fan or not.

One of my closest work mates was a spitting image of Shakin' Stevens back in the 80s, he was mistaken for him numerous times. People even approached him for autographs or Polaroid snaps.

Wasn't there some bloke back in the 90s who was lookalike of Gazza and became a bit of celebrity ?

Sadly neither could carry a note in a bucket.

Reply to GM - There was a lady many decades ago who was saying she was SJS's mum. She was on the same bus as my Mum one day and was talking about how he never calls etc and my Mum piped up and said "hello Mum, don't you recognise me....? If you're Jimmy Savile's Mum you're also mine" She got off at the next stop.

We've had all sorts over my lifetime, it sounds incredible (even to me) but we'd laugh at some of the rediculous stories of him being somewhere when we were him 100s of miles away. Lies, impersonations, exaggerations were part of our lives decades before he died. Sad thing is they were all innocent and amusing at the time, but now.......

Owning a Donkey (long story) was my favourite story, aparently someone has photos of it walking with him around Leeds. When asked "what happened to your Donkey?" he politely answered "he died" his fiend asked "I didn't know you had a donkey?" he replied "Ive never had one but she's gone away happy"

Fascinating..I like Coogan...hopefully they'll include the (now deceased) "victim" who said Savile abused her at a ToTP recording (getting the location wrong as so many did) and said it scarred her for life to the point she could never ever watch the BBC again but was actually photographed in front of her toy Dalek collection including a life size one