The Reckoning - Jimmy Savile

[naomi24]

The first episode of this four-part series will air on Monday 9 October on BBC One.   When news of this account of his life was first published I said I wouldn't watch but I think I will - if I can stand it.  How about you?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66987497

[Sqad]

Dave....at least 3 of those shots were definitely in Scarborough.

[10ClarionSt]

It was odd in the episode tonight where he's walking along the promenade with his mum, looking at some guys. That was clearly Llandudno, but the shot of the guys he was looking at was in Scarborough. 

[tomus42]

I'll watch it on iplayer later.

[naomi24]

I've watched the first two episodes.  Very well done indeed.  Savile certainly appears to have had some deep-rooted psychological issues not only in his arrogant belief in his own popularity and infallibility, but in his relationship with young people, his mother, and with his Roman Catholicism.  It's almost as though he thought the good deeds he did squared his crimes with God. I think one of his victims said something similar.  Steve Coogan is superb in the role.  He makes my flesh crawl which, in this instance, is the mark of a good actor.  I'm not at all sorry I decided to watch.  

[ichkeria]

I notice that the reviews agree that Coogan is brilliant but comment that the drama doesn't tell us anything new. I can't help feeling that that is rather unfair. It is a drama scrupulously based on what we know - about a person who was also most impossible to "probe". So I am not sure what people expect. What is "new" is the dramatisation per se and you are either in favour of that or you aren't. 
Is the character of Daniel Wordsmith a real person? Or a device to get Savile reminiscing?

[naomi24]

Ich, I think it portrays him as even more depraved than I could have imagined so it's told me something new.  I'm assuming Daniel Wordsmith is fictional.  I doubt Jimmy Savile would have entertained personal questions from anyone.

[Ken4155]

Daniel Wordsmith is, in fact, a real person who interviewed Saville over a number of years. His real name is Dan Davies - Saville had a weird habit of giving nicknames to people and he called the journo 'Dr Wordsmith'.

Watched all 4 episodes and have to agree that Coogan captured Saville's mannerisms (if not quite the voice) almost to perfection. The whole thing was done as sensitively as possible and pulled no punches in portraying Saville as the monster he truly was.

[Ken4155]

Forgot to add, Davies did write his book entitled 'In Plain Sight'. 

[naomi24]

Thanks Ken.  I didn't know that.

[naomi24]

Who is Savile's mate at the beginning?  Is he real or fictional and where did he come into it?  I must have missed something.  

[youngmafbog]

I cant becasue I wont pay the tax to watch it.

But to be honest I woldnt watch it anyway, especially from the BBC as they have a vested interest.

[ichkeria]

I believe technically the film was made by an ITV production team as the BBC did not want to be seen to be "marking their own homework".

Interesting to hear about Daniel "Wordsmith". I'd have thought that "Savile's mate" is probably real. There'd be little point making him up. I don't know. I remember reading an article in the Sun(?) years ago in which Savile boasted of causing violence to "troublemakers" in his clubs.

[barry1010]

It was produced by ITV Studios, and the executive producer is Jeff Pope, who directed See No Evil: The Moors Murders for ITV and is the head of ITV Productions Factual Drama.

 

[Zacs-Master]

It's very powerful tele (having watched the first one last night). The opening and closing factual bits from his victims is a stark and hard hitting technique. 

[ladybirder]

I'm watching Episode 3 now.  SC's voice sounds just like JS's.

[Barsel]

Naomi @ 9.29. His name was Ray Teret and he was a mate of Savills, another DJ.

When I used to go to the Plazza in Manchester in my lunch break and Saville was the DJ, Terret would often be there with him.

He got caught and was sent to prison where he died a few years ago.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12613621/who-ray-teret-bbc-reckoning-jimmy-savile.html

 

[naomi24]

Oh my god, Barsel!  What a creature!  Thanks for telling me.  

[Vagus]

Apparently it was filmed in Rhos on sea, Llandudno, Alexandra Park in Edgelea, Failsworth in Oldham, Hethorn Road in Miles Platting, Scarborough, Le Mans Crescent in Bolton, Leeds, and other locations.

[Vagus]

And yes, I'll watch it at some point.

[Ellipsis]

I know several people who didn't realise just how bad Savile was. One was somebody who's just graduated at University - she was 9 when Savile died! I think it's worth telling it well, even if we all think we knew everything already ... because many people don't, really.