A rather controversial TV series called The Reckoning is coming later this year, looking at the life and crimes of disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.

The BBC will bring Savile’s disturbing history of paedophilia to TV screens, including his use of hospitals, prisons, charities, members of the showbiz industry, politicians, journalists, the Catholic Church and the Royal Family to protect his serially abusive behaviour from being discovered. Savile also preyed on young, disabled children, using his industry connections to do so, abusing under-aged girls and attacking others aged up to 75 years old.

A first-look image of Steve Coogan – who is set to play Savile – was released last week, showing the Alan Partridge star dressed in one of the red suits that the presenter was so famous for wearing.

The divisive decision to involve Savile's victims in the series has also been debated. According to The Sun, four people who were abused by the presenter will be "interviewed on camera to offer their further insight and to reflect on their experiences in the hope that the telling of their stories will prevent something like it happening again."

As part of the duty of care efforts by the BBC and the series – which began filming in Manchester in November 2021 – victims were also invited on set to try and convince them that the story was being handled sensitively. One victim named Sam Brown called Coogan's performance “creepy, weird, awful” and “disgusting.”

Here's everything we know so far about the TV series.

What will The Reckoning be about?

According to an official BBC synopsis, The Reckoning "will trace the life of Jimmy Savile, a man who, for decades, became one of the UK’s most influential celebrities, but in death has become one of the most reviled figures of modern history following revelations of extensive and horrific abuse.

"Savile used his involvement in multiple organisations, such as the BBC, hospitals, prisons, and charities, to legitimise himself, forging friendships in show business, politics, journalism, the Catholic Church and even the Royal family to cement his position.”

A description written by IMDB adds that the TV series will begin by looking at Savile's “working class roots”, all the way to his success as a BBC TV presenter and his efforts to conceal his sexually abusive crimes. He died in 2011 before his crimes were uncovered.

Who has been cast in The Reckoning?

Alongside Coogan, we will see Happy Valley stars Siobhan Finneran and Mark Stanlet, as well as BAFTA winning Gemma Jones, Outlander's Mark Lewis Jones and EastEnders star Sandra James- Young.

What exactly is the controversy surrounding The Reckoning?

Critics have argued that bringing the painful stories of Savile's victims back to the foreground, as well as on screens, might trigger people who suffered from his actions firsthand, and is a distasteful story to tell.

One of his victims, who won't appear on the series, told The Sun: "The idea of making a drama out of Savile's life, for the purpose of entertainment, is so distasteful and distressing. I hold the BBC partly responsible for my abuse – many people knew what was going on and did nothing to stop it."

Coogan has also received criticism for involving himself in the controversial project. He released a statement saying: “[Writer] Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively a horrific story which, however harrowing, needs to be told.” He also insisted that his decision to play Saville was not one he took lightly.

BBC TV boss Charlotte Moore also explained the broadcaster's motivations behind greenlighting the project. "It would not be right for me to censor ideas from very respected writers who have written about similar subjects in the past,” she said in a statement.

The BBC added that it “worked closely with many people whose lives were impacted by Savile.”

Is there a trailer for The Reckoning?

Not yet, but we will update this article as soon as one drops.

When is The Reckoning due for release?

We don't have a specific release date, but we know that it's due out in the autumn – so there isn't long to wait.

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