Steve Coogan defends new Jimmy Savile series The Reckoning after backlash

08 October 2023 , 11:22

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Steve Coogan defends new Jimmy Savile series The Reckoning after backlash

Steve Coogan has defended an upcoming Jimmy Savile series in which he portrays the disgraced entertainer.

The Reckoning, which has been written by Neil McKay, is a biographical account of the life of the British DJ and television personality. Following a fierce backlash, Coogan spoke about the upcoming miniseries and said it could prevent history repeating itself.

During an appearance on Sunday Brunch last year, the 57-year-old actor told hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer that he understands people’s "antagonism about the whole idea" but insisted it features an "intelligent" script and was done "in consultation with many of Savile’s victims".

"I think that’s because Jimmy Savile played a trick on the entire nation so there’s a real feeling of antagonism about it," Coogan said.

"But you need to look at someone like that to understand how they’re able to operate and to prevent it happening again.

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"If you sweep it under the carpet and just don’t talk about it anymore, then those people are destined to come back," he continued.

Steve Coogan stars as Jimmy Savile in BBC drama The Reckoning (Getty Images)

The comedian also revealed that he would speak to the actors playing victims beforehand to help them feel at ease.

"I’d go and talk to them as myself and go, ‘Hi, I’m Steve, I’m not Jimmy Savile, that’s who I’m going to play today'.

"And you’re playing a role and we’re going to do it professionally, and it was so that they knew that I was someone else. So it was a tightrope, but I think we did it properly…" he added.

The BBC has previously defended their decision to create the series and said it was an important story to tell to 'ensure such crimes never happen again'.

Executive producer Jeff Pope said: "Its purpose 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 has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity," he added.

The Reckoning starts on BBC One 9pm on Monday 9th October

Kirsty McCormack