Steve Coogan reflects on taking on the challenging role of portraying Jimmy Savile, the notorious TV presenter involved in child abuse, in The Reckoning.

Actor Steve Coogan takes on the challenging role of portraying Jimmy Savile, one of the most notorious paedophiles and sex offenders in British criminal history, in a new TV drama titled The Reckoning. Savile, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 84, enjoyed a successful career as a TV presenter and radio DJ. Despite rumours and allegations about his abusive behaviour circulating for years, it was only after his death that the full extent of his sexual abuse became clear. Throughout his life, Savile used his celebrity status to prey on hundreds of people, both male and female, many of whom were minors. However, he managed to avoid accountability and punishment by denying and deflecting allegations when confronted. The Reckoning tracks Savile's career, from his early days as a DJ in music halls in the north of England in the 1960s to hosting popular shows such as Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It. The drama aims to examine why he never faced consequences for his actions. Coogan, known for his portrayal of Alan Partridge and films like Philomena, admits feeling great trepidation about taking on the role. He acknowledges that it was not an enjoyable part to play, but rather a professional challenge that he felt compelled to take on. Savile's crimes bring great shame to the institutions he worked or volunteered for, including the BBC and hospitals such as Broadmoor, Stoke Mandeville, and Leeds General Infirmary, where many of his assaults occurred. Despite attempts by some of his victims to raise alarms about his abuse, Savile's powerful connections, including prime ministers and members of the royal family, made it difficult for anyone to hold him accountable. Coogan and the show's producers were aware that the script for The Reckoning needed to address the question everyone has, regarding why the drama was being made in the first place. Coogan asserts that bringing Savile back to life through the drama will help people understand how such abuse can happen and prevent it from happening again. Coogan explains that Savile's charisma and the "Trojan horse" persona he created made it difficult for journalists and others to break through his façade. During the show, real-life victims of Savile give testimony about their experiences and the lasting impact of his assaults. The Reckoning was produced by ITV Studios, which allows for a valuable distance from the BBC in terms of editorial process. Some critics argue that the drama does not adequately portray the shelving of a Newsnight investigation into Savile in 2011 by the BBC before a posthumous tribute to him was broadcast. However, BBC's chief content officer Charlotte Moore insists that the show does not shy away from the BBC’s part in the abuse, clearly depicting those within the organization who failed to take action. The purpose of The Reckoning is to explore how Savile was able to get away with his crimes and why no one truly held him accountable.