The Reckoning<\/a> will start airing on BBC One from Monday 9th October, and it tells the dark and harrowing true story surrounding the crimes of disgraced television personality Jimmy Savile.<\/p>\nSavile is played by Steve Coogan in the four-part series, which comes from executive producer Jeff Pope and writer Neil McKay, who have worked together on previous true crime dramas including See No Evil: The Moors Murders and Appropriate Adult.<\/p>\n
The series has proved controversial because of its painful subject matter, with a common complaint being that horrific crimes shouldn\u2019t be turned into peak-time fiction.<\/p>\n
Executive producer Jeff Pope responded to this complaint in this week\u2019s issue of Radio Times magazine<\/strong>, expressing that he has faced the argument \u201cthroughout my career\u201d.<\/p> He explained: \u201cMy view is that the quickest way to invite something like this to happen again is to ignore it. I passionately believe we have to explore stories like Savile. The same is true with Fred West, Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. The theme of a lot of stuff that Neil and I do is that it\u2019s a warning from the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, writer Neil McKay added: \u201cI think what drama can do \u2013 which documentaries can\u2019t \u2013 is put you right in the middle of these scenes. Savile started out as a dance-hall DJ in Manchester. And DJs enjoy controlling a room.<\/p>\n