Steve Coogan is seen in character as paedophile Jimmy Savile for the first time as filming begins on controversial BBC series The Reckoning

• The Reckoning, which will be broadcasted by the BBC, will trace the disgraced former star’s upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences
• Steve Coogan, 55, portrays Jimmy Savile in new BBC drama and was seen on set in Bolton, Manchester, for the first time on Friday
• The BBC have said they are working with Savile’s victims and that the story will be of ‘sensitivity and respect’ 
• Steve previously admitted the decision to play the paedophile was ‘not one I took lightly’ 

Steve Coogan has been pictured in character as Jimmy Saville on the set of the controversial new series, The Reckoning.  

The new drama, which will be broadcasted by the BBC, will trace the disgraced former star’s upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences.

Filming for the show got underway in Bolton on Friday, with 55-year-old actor Steve seen arriving on the set in the back of a chauffeured Range Rover. 

Controversial: Steve Coogan has been pictured in character as Jimmy Saville on the set of the controversial new series, The Reckoning

The actor was then seen being escorted into his trailer under the cover of several umbrellas as series producers went to great lengths to keep the actor undercover. 

Also seen on set were extras dressed in nursing gear from the Sixties – when child abuse allegations against Savile began. 

The decision to chronicle Savile’s life has come under fire from many, however BBC has stated that they worked with his victims and will portray a story ‘with sensitivity and respect’.

Steve, who famously portrays fictional comedic character Alan Partridge, previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one ‘I took lightly’.

Disgraced: The new drama, which will be broadcasted by the BBC, will trace Savile’s upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences (pictured left in 1983) 

Tricky: Steve (pictured in 2020)  previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one ‘I took lightly’

He added: ‘Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively a horrific story which, however harrowing, needs to be told.’ 

Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television’s biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011.

In his final years, he fought to quell growing speculation about his illegal exploits throughout his illustrious career with the BBC – with victim testimony expected to be brought to life in the new drama.

Under wraps: The actor was then seen being escorted into his trailer under the cover of several umbrellas as series producers went to great lengths to keep the actor undercover

Extras: Also seen on set were extras dressed in nursing gear from the Sixties – when child abuse allegations against Savile began

Controversial: The decision to chronicle Savile’s life has come under fire from many, however BBC has stated that they worked with his victims (pictured: an extra on set) 

One to watch: BBC bosses have defended the decision to broadcast the series stating that it is a story that ‘must be told’ (pictured: an extra playing a nurse) 

A BBC-led inquiry into his actions found he had molested at least 72 children, some as young as eight, over a four decade campaign of sexual abuse with his first victim in 1959 and his last in 2006. 

His horrific reign of abuse could be charted ‘in the corridors, canteens, staircases and dressing rooms of every BBC premises’, their 2016 report found.

Executive producer, Jeff Pope, said: ‘I think this is a story that has to be told. We must understand why a man like Jimmy Savile seemed to remain immune for so long to proper scrutiny and criminal investigation.

Milling around: As well as extras in nurse uniforms one actress was seen dressed in a smart tartan skirt suit while an actor walked around the set in pyjamas 

What’s going on? One actor was seen in a pair of pyjamas and a face mask 

‘Steve has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity.’

The BBC also says it will draw on ‘extensive and wide-ranging research sources’ or the project, examining the lasting impact of Savile’s crimes and the ‘powerlessness’ his victims felt. 

Piers Wenger Controller, of BBC Drama, added: ‘The story of Jimmy Savile is one of the most emotive and troubling of our times. We do not intend to sensationalise these crimes but to give voice to his victims.

Coming soon: A release date has yet to be announced with filming for the series expected to continue taking place in Manchester over the coming months

‘We will work with survivors to ensure their stories are told with sensitivity and respect and to examine the institutions which Jimmy Savile was associated with and the circumstances in which these crimes took place.

‘Drama has the ability to tackle sensitive real life subjects and consider the impact of a crime on its survivors and what lessons can be learnt to stop this ever happening again.’

A release date has yet to be announced with filming for the series expected to continue taking place in Manchester over the coming months.  

Shocking: Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television’s biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011 

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