BBC to make drama about Jimmy Saville *title amended by GNHQ misleading*

Riverwalk

Have you never watched a crime drama about real people CraftyGranny?

Of course I have Riverwalk, but Saville's show was on BBC, Therefore, I wonder how much will be covered up or not mentioned. Dramas usually tell a nearly true story but add bits and take away bits to "dramatise" the programme.
I shall not be watching it but will definitely look forward to seeing the inevitable thread/s on GN the day after it shows!

I will watch this as Steve Coogan is an excellent character actor. I read a book about Saville’s crimes recently. He managed to get away with his foul behaviour due to his friendships with the great and the good. He was a National Treasure after all. The true story should be told.

Manhunt has just been praised on here too.
I did watch that.
And the dramatisation of the Coastal Path Murders, the
Pembrokeshire murders

I probably won't watch this as on the whole I'm not keen about vile crimes being turned into entertainment so soon after the events when victims or their families are still alive and suffering.

I think Steve Coogan is a good actor ( anyone see Stan and Ollie?) I also thought he was great in The Trip series with Rob Brydon.
This Jimmy Saville one will be hard to watch, must admit, but kudos to him for the portrayal.
Agree David Tennant gave an amazing performance as Neilson.
It was well known (by so many!) what a pervert Savile was and yet he enjoyed a good measure of protection from those in authority, what a disgrace!

lemongrove

I think Steve Coogan is a good actor ( anyone see Stan and Ollie?) I also thought he was great in The Trip series with Rob Brydon.
This Jimmy Saville one will be hard to watch, must admit, but kudos to him for the portrayal.
Agree David Tennant gave an amazing performance as Neilson.
It was well known (by so many!) what a pervert Savile was and yet he enjoyed a good measure of protection from those in authority, what a disgrace!

Also Philomena with Judi Dench. Wasn’t he responsible for the film being made as well?

Who exactly has referred to it as a "tribute"?

Sorry - just read through - nobody has called it a "tribute" but a drama

The word tribute was originally in the title of the thread MayBeMaw, but it's been changed by GNHQ after a request.

So we can't have "Benefits" as a heading but people can slur the BBC by calling this a "tribute".

I worry about this forum.

I've not seen it referred to as a tribute.

I think I'll probably watch this. I wonder if they show Johnny Rotten and Louis Theroux who both alluded to something amiss. Rotten was banned from the BBC for daring to cast aspersions on this vile man.

PippaZ

So we can't have "Benefits" as a heading but people can slur the BBC by calling this a "tribute".

I worry about this forum.

It was a mistake by the OP which has now been put right by GNHQ.i

Alegrias1

The word tribute was originally in the title of the thread MayBeMaw, but it's been changed by GNHQ after a request.

Seen that now thank you.

I’ve not read all of this, and I haven’t read anything about the Coogan thing (but I knew that it wouldn’t be a tribute nonetheless)

Anyway, I don’t know if you’re aware but Alistair McGowan created a stage play about Savile and played him.

It was about 5-10 years ago ( I’m terrible with time)
It was hardly publicised, at the request of all involved, and McGowan refused to be photographed ‘in role’.

It got amazing critical acclaim nevertheless.

I wonder if it’s the same thing as a screen play?

I will be watching because I think it will be very damming but informative and I think we need to watch these things for it to sink in and if we tuck them all away never to be spoken of how can future generations ever know the vile evilness that is around, and how would someone be warned to not take everyone at face value if these awful stories are lost
I recently watched the Fred and Rose west new programme headed by Trevor MacDonald it brought so many new questions and was extremely informative and interesting likewise the David Tennent drama
I accept that some people just don’t like anything like this and that’s fine but watching them doesn’t make you a bad person I think ( I hope) it will be handled well and Coogan although not a favourite of mine will I think do a good acting job
The Steven Laurence one has been on recently and many others too I don’t think this will make him seem in any better light than he is already
vile creature

I agree BlueBell it’s history, which future generations should learn from, however uncomfortable.

I don't expect I'll watch it, he always made my skin crawl, but I don't think it's wrong to make it. I'd hope it would expose the level of complicity that was extended to him, and make such a cover-up harder to happen ever again.

My friend went to see that Fanny

I would never have watched it anyway. Never liked him, regardless of what he did.

JaneJudge

My friend went to see that Fanny

Why am I not surprised?

What did they say about it Jane?

I'm sure this will be done respectfully as have the others, Pembrokeshire Path, Nilsen, Manhunt etc. They are stories that need to be told. They show the amazing work done by the Police but also show the catalogue of errors that usually occur as well. With Savile, there were a multitude of errors, countless in fact. He fooled almost everyone, to such a degree that the doubters were ignored and dismissed. That is what needs to be shown and I'm sure it will.

I agree Chestnut.

I wont watch it but at least we have the choice to watch it or not, his victims were helpless and had no choice at all. If this drama makes people aware and saves just one vulnerable person from becoming a victim, it will have been worth making.

All this will show is just how many people 'knew' about him but nothing was done. Believe me, I know!

Like a lot of things, you look back and wonder how on earth it could have happened, were people really taken in by him? Or was it easier to turn a blind eye?

I think it probably should be made, but I doubt I’ll watch it.

love0c

All this will show is just how many people 'knew' about him but nothing was done. Believe me, I know!

I'm really interested in this comment; not meant as a criticism at all, but I have long suspected that the only possible way this could have been happening is by unspoken complicity by others.
Or, perhaps, saville was a genius at hiding in plain sight.