The Reckoning: Steve Coogan to Portray Serial Sex Offender Jimmy Savile in BBC Drama

The four-part series, titled The Reckoning, will chronicle the ascent of Jimmy Savile, one of the biggest stars in television, while also shedding light on his years of sexual abuse and its profound impact on his victims. Four victims, who have chosen to reveal their identities, will be featured in the series.

Renowned for his portrayal of comedic character Alan Partridge, Steve Coogan will take on the role of serial sex offender Jimmy Savile, who passed away in October 2011 at the age of 84 without ever facing justice for his crimes. Reflecting on the message he hopes the series conveys, Coogan stated, “I hope people learn to listen to victims and survivors, and take these matters seriously. By treating people with respect and working together, we can prevent something like this from happening in the future.”

Coogan emphasized that the series sheds light on the fact that those who knew about Savile’s actions or were targeted by him were often individuals with “ostensibly low status who couldn’t change things.” He further stated, “The people with the power to make a difference were more culpable than those who lacked that power.”

Coogan expressed his desire for the BBC series, set to debut on October 9, to also highlight the presence of “decent people in this world who want to do the right thing,” adding, “It’s about being vigilant without losing faith in humanity.”

The series was written by Neil McKay, known for his work on BBC drama Four Lives about serial killer Stephen Port, and is being executive produced by Jeff Pope.

Coogan emphasized that the caliber of the team involved in the production was a major factor in his decision to take on the project, acknowledging that it carried more risk than anything he had done before. He stated, “The ultimate question is why are you doing it? That’s the question you have to answer, and that’s the question the script has to answer. In this case, it was clear from the script and my conversations with Neil and Jeff that the project was being carried out ethically and responsibly.”

Coogan concluded by stating, “Overall, I believe it is better to create this drama than to avoid it. Drama has the power to capture nuances and details that can be more illuminating than a straightforward documentary. We have witnessed the impact that well-made, fact-based dramas can have. Although I knew there were risks involved, I trusted that I had the best team supporting me and felt it was worth it. I believe this series is a powerful piece of work, and all those involved, including survivors, the cast, and the crew, should be proud of what has been accomplished.”

The full extent of Jimmy Savile’s crimes only came to light after his death, and he is now considered one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders.

The first episode of The Reckoning will air on October 9 on the BBC.

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