The Reckoning

4 part docu/drama on the life and crimes of one Jimmy Savile - the notorious British DJ, TV 'n radio presenter, showbiz personality, charity fund raiser supremo and serial paedophile with hundreds of victims spanning over half a century.

Steve Coogan plays the title role of Savile and is utterly brilliant - if that's the right word - in capturing the normality juxtaposed with the utter horror of a man who, for a long time, fooled a nation and manipulated those in positions of authority into turning a blind eye to his crimes. Within a few minutes of viewing this you are watching Savile and not Coogan playing Savile.

It's a tough watch I have to say and one wonders what quite was the purpose in bringing this back to screen? That said it makes for compelling viewing but not something I'd ever want to watch again. The various interviews with a handful of Savile's victims in each episode are heartbreaking...

The Reckoning. BBC 2023 docu drama on the life of Jimmy Savile. Steve Coogan plays Saville over a 40+ years and he is frighteningly real. His recreation is stomach turning and he gets the mannerisms perfectly. The main point of the drama is to highlight how Savile was able to get away with years of sexual abuse under the noses of the establishment? Because he made friends with various establishment figures who covered for him and protected him. That element of the story will never be known. He had friends in very high places. Mrs Thatcher, Prince Charles/ Prince Philip. If they didn't know what he was getting up to I'd be very surprised. Guilt by association.

The bravery of all the survivors of his abuse can not be praised enough, credit to the writers and producers of the series, although he is utterly repulsive at the same time it is utterly compelling. 8/10 although I'd never want to watch it again Coogan is stunning.

Growing up in 70s every kids will have their own thoughts and stories of Saville. Mine is seeing Saville and Peter Jaconelli parade down the sea front at Scarborough as if they owned it. Jaconelli in his mayor's chain and Saville in a gold track suit.

Their bling glistening and rattling as they walked by. Not a very exciting story but even then in the mid 90s their celebrity status gave them a certain kudos even though they look outlandish and just weird. Ps nice mention of Green Tambourine by the Lemon Pipers pop fans.

A great performance on a very tricky subject and let's face it a godawful man. Coogan takes you back to that era in a seamless performance, certainly worthy of a TV Bafta . Really enjoyed this drama on what is such a vile not just television but also that particular historical period for many a reason. The entire cast deserves much credit, and playing their part in backing the incredible performance of Steve Coogan, who once again showed his versatility when playing such characters, please also seek out his other excellent performances, Laurel and Hardy and Philomena. Finally, a very Well done to all the brave victims who Accounts, helped make this such compelling viewing.

In the course of his life he became one of the most celebrated radio and television personalities in Britain, and used his extensive charity work to place himself at the very heart of the most important institutions in our society.

This drama examines how he was able to hide in plain sight, using his position to commit countless serious sexual offences, many against minors, and how the voices of so many were ignored and silenced.

Steve Coogan is excellent as Jimmy Saville and has his mannerisms and inflections down, which is both impressive but also very unsettling. The dramatisation too is excellent and isn't shy of showing real footage which just cements its historical accuracy and importantly, the survivors get to speak out as they deliver their stories in a talking head style.

It's hard to find the words to describe how brave the survivors of this monster are and also hard to describe how brave Steve Coogan was to take this on but take it on he did. I'm slightly uneasy about this drama coming from the very corporation who enabled him and seeing the depth of suspicion about him behind closed doors makes it even more unpalatable to think he was allowed to get away with it for so long but that aside, the dramatisation is a hard but necessary watch. The interspersed real footage keeps the chills going and I found it hard to breathe sometimes watching these horrors unfold. My heart goes out to all of his victims alive or dead and to victims the world over who have or are suffering from monsters like him. Great cast all round but Steve Coogan deserves huge acclaim for this.