The Reckoning, BBC's new Jimmy Savile drama (made independently by ITV Studios), was met with understandable trepidation when it was first announced.
Was this a story that really needed to be recounted, particularly in dramatised scenes? Had enough time passed? Would the series honour the survivors, or exploit their trauma for entertainment purposes? And how did the BBC, one of the institutions whose culture was found to have historically enabled Savile's behaviour, fit into the drama?
The answers to these concerns are bound to be subjective but, in our view, having seen all four episodes, The Reckoning handles its sensitive subject matter with the utmost care.
Meticulously researched and based on extensive interviews with those directly affected by Savile, much of what's depicted can either be traced back to something factual or has been written for the dramatisation with a source in mind.
The work of journalist Dan Davies (portrayed by the brilliant Mark Stanley), who spent years trying to build a picture of the man behind the public image, provides the central narrative of The Reckoning's storytelling.
The extensive interviews which shaped Davies' book (In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy Savile), mostly conducted in the privacy of Savile's homes, were also used as material to inform the portrayal of Savile on-screen, in tandem with accounts in his own autobiographies.
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Steve Coogan excels in the central role as Jimmy Savile; he embodies Savile's mannerisms without playing it off as impersonation or turning the character into a caricature. His visual transformation is impressive, especially when you consider the show's 50-year time span, and Coogan's depiction decays convincingly as his subject gets older and becomes less in control.
Coogan's performance also treads the fine line between acknowledging the pomp and charisma that saw Savile become one of the most famous and influential entertainers in the country, while managing to avoid glorifying him in any way.
It might feel impossible not to look at Savile through a 2023 lens, but the series is also careful not to amp him up into a pantomime villain. In trying to depict Savile as a layered and rounded person, the deeply disturbing truth carries even more weight and is grounded firmly in reality.
And this brings us on to the accounts of his victims. The Reckoning chooses to focus in on four stories in particular, and we know that they – and many more – were involved in the making of this series.
Writer Neil McKay (who is no stranger to heavy subject matter, having also worked on the Stephen Port series Four Lives as well as the Fred and Rose West drama Appropriate Adult) conducted extensive meetings and interviews with some of those that encountered Savile. The Reckoning itself also features on-camera interviews with the four whose accounts were dramatised, quite literally giving them a voice.
As for what to show and what not to show, The Reckoning had another tough decision to make: how do you depict the abuse, so as not to sanitise Savile's crimes, while being mindful about handling it sensitively?
The four-part drama rightly does not include any overtly graphic scenes of abuse, choosing instead to pull the camera away or to focus on the emotional impact on Savile's survivors. That being said, given the series' subject matter and its creative resolve to hold Savile accountable, there are scenes that still make for uncomfortable and upsetting viewing.
The Reckoning attempts to grapple with the question that many had when news of his crimes hit the headlines: how did he get away with it for so long? The BBC does not come out of the episodes smelling of roses, in line with the findings of the Dame Janet Smith review, but the series also pans wider and builds a complex picture of grooming, manipulation and abuse of power.
As a piece of factual drama, The Reckoning has purpose and has been thoughtfully crafted. But the decision as to whether or not you will want to engage with it is going to remain a personal one.
The Reckoning will air on from Monday, October 9 at 9pm on BBC One, and the full series will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
