The Reckoning (2022 TV series)

The Reckoning is a forthcoming true crime television drama about the life of, and offences committed by, the British DJ and television personality Jimmy Savile, with Steve Coogan portraying Savile.

The Reckoning
GenreCrime drama
Written byNeil McKay[1]
Directed bySandra Goldbacher[1]
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersNeil McKay, Jeff Pope[2]
ProducerClare Shepherd [3]
Production locationsEngland, Wales
Production companyBBC
Release
Original networkBBC One

Premise

The four-part series is a biographical account of the life of the infamous Jimmy Savile. After he died, it came to light that he had been a prolific predator and sex offender. The series covers Savile's upbringing, career and sexual offences.[4]

Cast

Production

The production was announced in October 2020,[7] and was criticised before filming was underway. Richard Morrison, writing in The Times, stated that, as it was commissioned by the BBC (the corporation that was accused of turning a blind eye to Savile's crimes), it felt "less an act of contrition than of exploitation."[8] Similarly, Pragya Argawal, writing in The Independent stated:

It also feels insidiously callous and thoughtless that an organisation that played a role in glorifying a sex offender and profiting from him [the BBC], while covering up his actions for many decades, are once again capitalising on his “brand” and the fascination that viewers have with monsters and true crime.[9]

However, Ben Lawrence writing in The Daily Telegraph, said that the victims deserved "better than the kneejerk hysteria that has surfaced about The Reckoning", and that "... the question is not whether we should make a drama like The Reckoning, but how we do so."[10]

Steve Coogan himself announced that playing Savile was not a decision that "... (he) took lightly."[11] "Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively an horrific story which - however harrowing - needs to be told."[12]

Work on the production started in early October 2021, and has been noted filming in the north west of England and in North Wales.[13][14]

In light of the controversy surrounding the series and the events regarding the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the drama was first expected to be broadcast by the BBC in 2022,[15] before being pushed back to 2024 and then later pushed forward to 2023.[16] At the time, a source said, “The four-part drama is being edited in such a meticulous and careful way, so as not to create more pain and suffering for Savile’s victims.” [17]

References
  1. Glover, Ella (12 October 2021). "Steve Coogan pictured as Jimmy Savile for first time while filming The Reckoning". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. "BBC to make drama about Jimmy Savile's life". Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  3. "Steve Coogan cast as lead in BBC Drama The Reckoning". Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. Evans, Chris, ed. (26 October 2021). "Cold Stare". The Daily Telegraph. No. 51, 770. p. 7. ISSN 0307-1235.
  5. Waterson, Jim (26 September 2021). "Steve Coogan to play Jimmy Savile in 'sensitive' BBC drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. Griffin, Louise (22 October 2021). "Steve Coogan gets into character as Jimmy Savile in new look at controversial BBC drama". Metro. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. Morris, Lauren (14 October 2020). "BBC announces drama mini-series The Reckoning about life of Jimmy Savile". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  8. Morrison, Richard (1 October 2021). "The Reckoning: Tim Davie should think again about the BBC's Jimmy Savile drama". The Times. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. Argawal, Pragya (27 September 2021). "Opinion: We don't need TV dramas about child abusers like Jimmy Savile". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. Lawrence, Ben (30 December 2021). "It is the duty of dramatists to go to the dark side". The Daily Telegraph. No. 51, 825. p. 25. ISSN 0307-1235.
  11. O'Connor, Roisin (27 September 2021). "Steve Coogan to play paedophile Jimmy Savile in new BBC drama". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  12. "Steve Coogan cast as lead in BBC Drama The Reckoning". BBC. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  13. Carr, Flora (13 October 2021). "BBC drama boss defends new Jimmy Savile series starring Steve Coogan". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. Steves, Ashley (12 November 2021). "UK What's Filming: BBC Miniseries 'The Reckoning', Starring Steve Coogan". Backstage. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  15. Mzimba, Lizo (26 December 2021). "TV lookahead: 22 highlights to look out for in 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  16. Waterson, Jim (28 February 2023). "BBC Jimmy Savile drama to air this year despite concerns". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  17. "The Reckoning: BBC Jimmy Savile Drama 'Delayed Until 2024'". TV Zone. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.