BBC's The Reckoning viewers horrified over disturbing Savile hospital scene
BBC viewers were left utterly horrified during the first episode of The Reckoning - written by Neil McKay - a biographical account of the life of the British DJ and television personality Jimmy Savile.
Actor Steve Coogan, who plays the disgraced star - exposed as a paedophile, rapist and serial abuser only after his death - admitted he had to put his 'overwhelming sense of revulsion' to one side to play him convincingly.
The drama pulls no punches when it comes to showing Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, as a prolific abuser who preyed primarily on teenage girls and young women but also on younger girls, boys, those who were ill and disabled and even the dead.
In one chilling scene tonight as the first episode aired, Savile is seen visiting a hospital where one young girl is sitting up in bed. Upon seeing popular DJ Savile dressed up in a clown costume, the young girl beams with joy - however things soon turn incredibly sinister.
The drama pulls no punches when it comes to showing Savile, who died in 2011 aged 84, as a prolific abuser (BBC)Savile asks the young hospital patient what ailment she has before asking her to 'help look for his juggling balls' as he encourages her to 'check his pockets' in a busy ward. Savile then grabs her hand and places it on his manhood before the victim leaps out of bed and hides in the bathroom crying.
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Moments later, a nurse follows her and quizzes her on why she is hiding and crying before telling her 'that's just Jimmy. He's trying to cheer everyone up'. Following the haunting scene, viewers flocked to Twitter (X) to share their reactions.
"I know this series was going to hit hard, but it has actually made me sick to my stomach tonight watching this. I'll give it to Steve Coogan - he is an incredible actor. It's as though you're literally watching Savile in all his evil action," one viewer wrote.
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"The scene in the hospital was the absolute worst," another agreed, while someone else added: "Very hard to watch. I feel for those victims so so much."
"Savile was evil walking the earth disguised as a funny man and he got away with it. The nurse's response after that poor girl ran into the bathroom proves it all. Evil, evil, man and all in plain sight," someone else fumed.
Another BBC viewer pointed out: "Sending love to all those tonight watching The Reckoning who have been affected by sexual assault/abuse at the hands of those who you were supposed to trust. Grown men held to the highest of standards taking advantage of everyone they can. Truly heartbreaking."
"Actually had to switch off The Reckoning because it was THAT disturbing. Steve Coogan is eerily similar to Savile and it's haunting to witness," someone else tweeted.
The BBC have 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. “What the survivors have said to us is that he just got to the grave before they had any justice."
"But what they've said is they feel it is a posthumous trial - the trial of Jimmy Savile when he's gone. Some people might feel like it's useless, but to them it isn't. To them, it mattered that we have told the story through to that last moment. There's no greater story which serves as a warning to people about sexual offending and groomers. Savile conned his way through our society to the very top. To me Savile is the ultimate warning from history. This series is a cautionary tale.”
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If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Watch The Reckoning, on BBC1 and iPlayer.
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