{"id":37882,"date":"2023-10-11T14:24:49","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T12:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1905497"},"modified":"2023-10-11T14:44:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T12:44:20","slug":"who-plays-margaret-thatcher-in-the-reckoning","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/who-plays-margaret-thatcher-in-the-reckoning\/","title":{"rendered":"Who plays Margaret Thatcher in The Reckoning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most viewers will recognise her from a beloved BBC period drama. <\/p>

By Abby Robinson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 11 October 2023 at 12:20 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The power and influence Jimmy Savile<\/a> wielded during the height of his fame, and even after he died, as evidenced by the huge turnout for his funeral, is emphasised throughout BBC drama The Reckoning<\/a>, which charts his heinous crimes<\/a> and explores the culture and institutions which enabled him to do as he pleased.<\/p>\n

As seen in the series, one powerful figure who the presenter and DJ forged a relationship with was British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.<\/p>\n

Savile was supported by Thatcher in his official role as lead fundraiser and commissioning project manager in the \u00a310 million reconstruction of the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital following damage caused by <\/span>severe weather.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to correspondence released by the National Archives<\/a> in 2012, Savile met with Thatcher several times in an attempt to get support for his appeal, with the then-Department for Health and Social Security promising a \u201cgovernment contribution\u201d.<\/p>\n

An official report<\/a> carried out into Savile\u2019s activities at the hospital noted that this position gave him \u201cvirtually uncontested authority and control\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jimmy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jimmy Savile and Margaret Thatcher at an NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) fundraising presentation in 1980.<\/span><\/figcaption> Evening Standard\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There were also several written communications between the pair, one which read: \u201c<\/span>My girl patients pretended to be madly jealous and wanted to know what you wore and what you ate. All the paralysed lads called me \u2018Sir James\u2019 all week. They all love you. Me too!!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite warnings from senior civil servants, including the most senior Sir Robert Armstrong, <\/span>Thatcher lobbied for Savile to receive a knighthood for his extensive charity work, which was spotlighted in a Freedom of Information request obtained by The Sun (via BBC News<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe remain worried,\u201d said Armstrong following public comments made by Savile about having sex with women while running<\/span> marathons for charity. <\/span>\u201cFears have been expressed that Mr Savile might not be able to refrain from exploiting a knighthood in a way which brought the honours system into disrepute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But in 1990, just weeks after Thatcher had stood down, Savile received a knighthood.<\/p>\n

While in office, she also invited him to Chequers on several occasions, and Savile even spent New Year\u2019s Eve with the politician and her family, although there is no indication that Thatcher knew anything about Savile\u2019s crimes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who plays Margaret Thatcher in The Reckoning?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jimmy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Steve Coogan as Jimmy Savile, Fenella Woolgar as Margaret Thatcher and Peter Wight as mayor of Scarborough <\/span><\/span>Peter Jaconelli<\/span><\/span> in The Reckoning.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/ITV Studios\/Matt Squire<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Fenella Woolgar portrays the former British PM in the series.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people will know her as Sister Hilda from Call the Midwife<\/a>. She first appeared in the BBC drama back in 2018, but was absent from the previous season after her character left Nonnatus House in Poplar, east London.<\/span><\/p>\n

An insider told The Mirror<\/a> that there could be scope for her to return in the future.<\/p>\n

People might also know her from Stephen Fry\u2019s 2003 film Bright Young Things, and she\u2019s also appeared in Victoria & Abdul starring Dame Judi Dench and <\/span><\/span>Ali Fazal, BBC One\u2019s Jekyll, and ITV period drama Home Fires, among others.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n