The Reckoning viewers all say same thing about Steve Coogan's Savile portrayal

10 October 2023 , 22:39

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The Reckoning viewers all say same thing about Steve Coogan's Savile portrayal

Sickened The Reckoning viewers hailed Steve Coogan's portrayal of Jimmy Savile after a harrowing second episode and picked up on his near-identical and 'uncanny' mannerisms of the monster.

BBC viewers were left utterly horrified again this evening as the biographical account of the life of the DJ and television personality saw him break a promise to his dead mother by whisking a young girl away from her parent and off to be assaulted in a camper van.

The storyline left those watching sick to their stomachs but most agreed Coogan's performance as the warped sex offender brought the demon to life. 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.

Steve Coogan's portrayal is 'BAFTA worthy' (BBC)

Actor Coogan has earned praise as fans said on twitter were quick to compliment the most challenging of roles. One wrote: "Steve Coogan is giving the performance of his career in #TheReckoning. The resemblance to Saville’s mannerisms is uncanny. I can’t help think that it must have taken its toll on Steve Coogan because some of the scenes are sinister and hard to stomach."

Another said: "Give this man a BAFTA, a golden globe & an Oscar. A sublime performance, he actually BECOMES Saville. Well done Steve Coogan!" as someone else posted: "Coogan has utterly nailed the mannerisms and the voice. Compelling stuff and to think it went on for so long. Gruesome watching but great acting."

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A fourth person put: "The portrayal of Jimmy Savile by Steve Coogan in #TheReckoning is incredible and truly sinister. Even the content used to enhance the storyline is chilling, such was the level of Savile’s depravity. Scandalous that his victims never got their time in a court of law with him."

Jimmy Savile sexually abused hundreds of children and women at the height of his fame (Getty)

Steve defended the series in which he portrays the disgraced entertainer following a fierce backlash. The Reckoning, which has been written by Neil McKay, could prevent history repeating itself, the actor said during an appearance on Sunday Brunch last year.

The 57-year-old 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". He said: "I think that’s because Jimmy Savile played a trick on the entire nation so there’s a real feeling of antagonism about it.

Tuesday's episode ended with a harrowing scene (BBC)

"But you need to look at someone like that to understand how they’re able to operate and to prevent it happening again. 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. The BBC previously defended their decision to create the series and said it was an important story to tell to 'ensure such crimes never happen again'.

Following his death, allegations dating back to 1963 were made against him and an official investigation, Operation Yewtree was launched in 2012. In October of the same year, The Met Police said they were looking into 400 enquiries and that the number of alleged victims was around 450.

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.

Sam Elliott-Gibbs