Unearthed clip shows Steve Coogan's Jimmy Savile meeting and creepy impression
Steve Coogan's first meeting with Jimmy Savile has been unearthed as the actor transformed into the disgraced entertainer to shed light on some of his most sickening crimes.
Actor Steve, 58, has won widespread praise for his portrayal of the late BBC broadcaster in TV drama The Reckoning. The four-part series reveals how Savile was able to become one of Britain's most prolific child sexual abusers despite his huge profile. The paedophile was able to hide in plain sight while fronting some of the UK's most watched shows and fraternising with politicians and royalty.
Viewers of the new series have commended Coogan for giving a near-perfect impression of the sinister Jim'll Fix It host. It now appears the actor was perfecting Jimmy's mannerisms for decades as a recently-found clip of the pair's first meeting has been revealed.
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In 1988 the two men appeared together on James Whale's talk show. In the footage shared on X, formerly Twitter, Coogan sits with the cigar-smoking DJ in the studio before he's asked to impersonate the once revered presenter. "Everyone does impressions of Jimmy, but I'll give it a go," Coogan says before mimicking the DJ with impressive accuracy: "He didn't get to number one, but he was a number one guy," he quips, sounding just like the Burely-born entertainer, as Whale laughs approvingly.
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Jimmy, dressed in a tracksuit and wearing sepia-tinted glasses, says: "That turned the clock back to when I was first on the radio. It was my first week in showbiz with a very young Cliff Richard." Holding up a black and white photo of the Summer Holiday star, Jimmy asks Steve: "You're not that old. How did you know how I sounded like then?" The actor knowingly replies: "Oh, you know, grapevine."
The Reckoning viewers hailed Coogan's portrayal of Savile after a harrowing second episode of the series and picked up on his near-identical and 'uncanny' mannerisms of the monster.
Steve Coogan met Jimmy Savile 35 years before he knew he would be playing the paedophile in The ReckoningQuick to compliment the Paul Calf star on one of his 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."
Fans have praised his performance in The Reckoning (BBC)The comedian defended the controversial series on Sunday Brunch last year, pre-empting the current back lash in which some think the Savile's sickening story need to stay in the past. Speaking to host, Tim Lovejoy, Coogan 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. 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."
•The Reckoning returns to BBC One on Monday at 9pm and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
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