October 6th 2023.
Can a drama about Jimmy Savile be justified? This difficult question was raised when the BBC announced that they were to air a drama about the notorious DJ and sex offender, starring Steve Coogan.
Savile's countless sexual assaults and crimes over the course of decades left a huge scar on both his victims, their families, and the millions who idolised him. How could it ever be appropriate to dramatise such a devastating memory which is still so painful?
The Reckoning, which features Coogan alongside filmed testimonies from real-life survivors who suffered at Savile's hands, aims to honour the survivors and tell their story. The BBC conducted interviews with numerous victims who, in the end, decided that they didn't want to take part. They chose four stories to be a special focus in the series, demonstrating the level of Savile's evil depravity from the early years of his career all the way to the end of his life.
Many members of the public discovered Savile's true nature only after he died, leaving unanswered questions about why the BBC had failed to notice and act on the rumours surrounding his behaviour. The Reckoning depicts this, showing when the BBC first hired him and then granted him his own show, Jim'll Fix It, where he allegedly preyed on vulnerable young victims.
Some viewers have criticised the BBC for capitalising on the continued interest in Savile and true crime rather than owning up to past mistakes. However, the drama's purpose is to highlight how Savile was able to get away with grooming and assaulting people while he was alive, rather than events that occurred after his death in 2011. It is made clear that the BBC should have done more to protect his victims, with a caption at the end of the final episode reminding viewers of the shelved Newsnight programme that would have investigated the allegations made against him.
Steve Coogan gives a skin-crawling performance as Savile, capturing his mannerisms and voice, as well as his prosthetics and wig. Much of the atrocity depicted in The Reckoning is left up to the viewer's imagination, as the camera focuses on the aghast faces of underage victims as they realise what is happening to them.
Using Coogan as a device allows the creators to stress just how manipulative Savile was, as well as how he used his fame and authority to take advantage of vulnerable people and get away with it unscathed.
The drama's main focus is on the survivors, and it is made clear that a TV drama will never suffice as a form of justice for someone as wicked as Savile. However, stressing how grooming can and does take place in society is an extremely vital message to take away to help prevent it from happening again. One of the lasting images viewers will be left with is that of one of the survivors, who tearfully says to the camera: 'Please don't let this happen again.'
Ultimately, it is up to viewers to decide whether they think the reasoning behind The Reckoning being made is justified. If victims and survivors of Savile feel any semblance of revenge, peace or closure thanks to The Reckoning, then perhaps that's justification enough.
The Reckoning airs on Monday October 9 at 9pm on BBC One, with all four episodes released on BBC iPlayer.
Victim Support offers support to survivors of rape and sexual abuse. You can contact them on 0333 300 6389. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the The Agency entertainment team by emailing us email, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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