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...

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.

Many people loved Jimmy Savile, millions would tune in to watch him, he raised millions of pounds for charity, however, the man was genuinely monstrous, the list of his sickening crimes is obscene.

When this broke on the news, it was just shocking, he was a British institution, close to Government, The Royal family, hospitals etc, it was hard to contemplate, this case really did change things.

This is surely going to be divisive, and for many good reasons, there's something a little uncomfortable about the fact that The Beeb made this, considering the history.

However, opinions of the real life situation out of the way, this is an excellent drama, very well made, superbly acted and thought provoking.

Harrowing and hard to watch at times, it's really sickening, mercifully it's not too graphic, but what's shown and implied is diabolical enough.

Steve Coogan delivers a first class, award winning performance, he's got everything spot on, the visuals, the body language, the very strange behaviour, spot on, he's definitely faced something of a backlash. Mark Stanley, Gemma Jones, Fenella Woolgar and others are excellent in support.

Well worth watching.

9/10.

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.

Coogan is amazing as Savile, and I often thought I was watching the show on Netflix. He steals the show from start to finish with his portrayal and offers no excuses for JS's predatory behaviour.

The supporting cast is brilliant, with Gemma Jones playing his mother. She clearly knows that her son is different and in one scene states that 'he's old enough to be their father.'. However, she is dragged into JS's web of deceit and lies.

Hiding in plain sight is an excuse. People knew, particularly at the BBC. In one scene we are shown a picture of JS with his hand on the bottom of a young lady who he later abuses. People knew what was going and did nothing to stop the abuse.

Why is it horrific? The abuse scenes are never shown, and this is implied. However, it is the eye witness accounts which are so painful to watch. These poor people were never heard and will never get the justice they deserve. It is sickening to think that this man has an OBE and was allowed to get away with the most heinous of crimes. In fact, organisations like the BBC allowed a steady stream of young ladies to be groomed, abused, and have their lives ruined by a sadistic, vile, and truly devil of a man.

Coogan nails his interpretation of this man, but it is certainly not an easy watch.