{"id":36745,"date":"2023-09-11T22:00:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T20:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1887533"},"modified":"2023-09-12T06:23:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T04:23:20","slug":"steve-coogan-explains-bbcs-correct-choice-to-tackle-jimmy-savile-story","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/steve-coogan-explains-bbcs-correct-choice-to-tackle-jimmy-savile-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Coogan explains BBC\u2019s \u201ccorrect\u201d choice to tackle Jimmy Savile story"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.” <\/p>

By Katelyn Mensah\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 11 September 2023 at 20:00 PM<\/p>

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Steve Coogan has said the BBC made the \u201ccorrect choice\u201d to go ahead with creating a true crime drama about Jimmy Savile\u2019s life and the crimes he committed.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Savile was one of the BBC\u2019s most popular presenters and following his death, he was outed as a serial abuser. New series The Reckoning<\/a> will trace Savile\u2019s life through the decades and plans to \u201cuse drama\u2019s unique ability to place events in their emotional and historical context\u201d.<\/p>\n

Coogan will portray Savile in the four-part series\u00a0this autumn, alongside Gemma Jones (Marvellous), Mark Stanley (Happy Valley) and Siobhan Finneran<\/a> (Happy Valley).<\/p>\n

The BBC has faced backlash over the drama from some quarters, with suggestions that it could bring back traumatic memories for Savile\u2019s victims and concerns that it isn\u2019t an appropriate subject matter for drama.<\/p>

Speaking to The Radio Times Podcast<\/strong> for the latest issue of Radio Times magazine<\/strong>, Coogan revealed that he believes the BBC made the right choice when it came to green lighting the series.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is controversial and I understand that. The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don\u2019t, and I believe the correct choice is to be damned if they do,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cBroadly, it\u2019s better to talk about something than not. The team had the right attitude and it was done with the cooperation of survivors. I think when it\u2019s broadcast, it will vindicate itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last month, BBC content boss Charlotte Moore said the broadcaster would not \u201ccensor\u201d writers<\/a> who want to make shows about controversial subjects.<\/p>\n

Coogan has previously said: \u201cTo play Jimmy Savile was not a decision I took lightly. Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively an horrific story which \u2013 however harrowing \u2013 needs to be told.\u201d<\/p>\n

Executive producer Jeff Pope has also said: \u201cThe purpose of this drama is to explore how Savile\u2019s offending went unchecked for so long, and in shining a light on this, to ensure such crimes never happen again. Steve Coogan has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest issue of Radio Times magazine<\/strong> is on sale from Tuesday 12th September.<\/em><\/p>\n

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