THE RECKONING - bbc 1 mon 9th - 9pm and Tue - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

There will be four episodes in total, with the second airing at 9pm on Tuesday, October 10.

The third and fourth episodes are likely to air on the following Monday and Tuesday.

The Reckoning stars Steve Coogan as Savile and has spent a long time in production, with a planned release in 2022 reportedly being delayed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

It will trace the life of Savile from a working-class background to one of the biggest stars in television and will also focus on his years of sexual abuse and the impact he had on his victims.

Saville (https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23729749.bbc-reveal-first-official-image-steve-coogan-jimmy-savile/)
died in October 2011 aged 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes.

By not talking about it, you don’t get to the nub of that and if you don’t look at it you’re destined for those things to happen again.

The drama answers the question: how did he get away with it?

"The drama answers that question which is a very important one."
The series will also feature interviews with four of Savile's victims.

Perhaps it was the glam rock thing that set me against JS when I was a kid. I hated that style; I just couldn’t get my head round it. My disdain was justified when it ran its course a few years later. When I was at Uni Gary Glitter was doing his desperate Uni gigs. We all went for a laugh - he was like a big pantomime dame hamming it up for a few quid.

After writing my last post I felt sad and posted this on the other The Reckoning thread:

I never liked JS as a child but even though I felt that way he was still part of my childhood and I feel so sad thinking that many of his victims were the age that I was then. I have my own traumas to recount and similarly the abuser was very popular in the community but I cannot imagine what it would be like if your abuser was a huge celebrity. It would be like living a double life - the image of the man onscreen clashing with your horrible reality. Poor poor kids.

There was a man sort of similar to looks as Savile locally, longer hair, suits but casual - no tracksuits, something bright like a flower. He was nicknamed Elvis and there were rumours as to him being a paedophile but never proven. He used to chat to and give sweets to children. Because we all knew him (parents and kids alike) we were friendly and polite but were always warned about him, eg don’t go to his house/flat, don’t be alone with him.

This man was seen as zany too. He used to dive off the top board at the swimming pool.

It was obvious he was different but to some maybe it was obvious that he was just a slightly eccentric character rather than a suspected paedophile.

But that’s the danger about men like Savile and indeed this man. Because even though we knew the signs, Savile and Gary Glitter were so zany, fun, they seemed to like and get kids’ personalities, that’s why they’re so dangerous, to kids. Offer a child to get their dream come true and a medal and it’s virtually the same as promising them sweets or a puppy.

@koalaknickers I understand what you are saying. I was discussing this with my husband and telling him that I didn't even know there was such a thing as an age of consent never mind what it was! My one thing I got from my mother ( as Dad would never have said anything) was "don't come home pregnant or you will be out of the door". She didn't even talk about periods to me and I don't think my situation was unusual then in the 60s. I had one friend who had sex at 14 and then there were 2 girls who disappeared from school as pregnant. There were no sources of information - no stranger danger, no my pants books etc. I recall a man wanting to show me puppies and I ran like hell. I remember a slightly older friend showing us her pubic hair ( yup I know that sounds weird) - we had no idea of what was going to happen. Life was very very different.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns - it’s called grooming we didn’t have a word for it back then.

- we had no idea of what was going to happen. Life was very very different.

I think that’s what I am feeling very distressing watching the programme - that these teenagers had no idea of danger and probably no idea of what even happened to them.....let alone the vocabulary or an option to tell a parent.

It was like watching lambs to the slaughter as we know the story but even in the series each one you are wishing they could get away.

let alone the vocabulary or an option to tell a parent

And then there were some who did tell and were told to shut up and not make a fuss. It was the way it was for many of us then.

You have hit the nail on the head. Unsavory things were not spoken about. I was from a very rural area with a strict family. So I was both naive and rebellious. Not a good combo.

Most girls I know would never turn to parents or teachers as they were scared of being disbelieved or exaggerating, getting 'thrown out' (as I was, pregnant at 17), told they deserved it for being a strumpet and being Punished.

I would like to think times have changed, but then read socia media posts victim blaming the 16 year old that Russel Brand allegedly face fucked. 16 is the age of consent, but that's still a child, and yet Prince Andrew is a nonce for having sex with a 17 year old? Both are equaly repulsive, but Brand is 'popular', just like Saville was back on the day.

We didn’t have a word for it back then no.

I recall speaking with a male friend of mine who’s moved away but lived in the next street to ours and there was a known paedophile (not the person I mentioned) who was caught doing something to a young child. Apparently the man was beaten up for this and he moved away. I don’t condone this at all really, vigilante behaviour. I had no idea at the time. All I knew was my DB was blonde and angelic looking and used to attract dodgy characters but luckily he avoided them.

I heard some of the victims weren't able to have a normal relationship for 20 odd years due to the abuse/ trauma.

Just cut themselves selves off till they were in their late 30s/ 40s.

You can't really judge someone on their appearance
Christopher Jeffrey ,s looked a bit odd and when he wss arrested on suspicion of the murder of Joanna Yeats people had him bang to.rights when he was in fact entirely innocent and it wss his very average looking tenant and neighbour who was the actual.murderer

I wasn’t judging him on appearance alone, though it was partly thought that he did look a bit like Elvis (older) and wore brightly coloured ties that kids would sometimes comment on. It was his appearance combined with his friendly and zany/odd behaviour that got him noticed. I have no idea if he did abuse children but definitely the local mothers would discourage their children from going to his house/being alone with him, accepting sweets from him.

@bronkie Yes! "Don't dare come home pregnant or you're out on the street!" I was threatened with this too when older. I didn't have a sexual encounter until I was 21 but if I had become pregnant I think I'd have become a runaway rather than face my mother! If I had become pregnant by being abused I am not sure I'd have known it wasn't my fault either. I think, because of my upbringing, I'd have automatically assumed it would be my fault. Probably because I never felt my mother had my back anyway.

It's quite thought provoking

E3 tonight

Poor susan. When he locked the door and took the key out I shivered

Then the gas lighting of that didn't happen

Kevin. Our little secret

And his silent tear down his cheek

This is horrible watching

This third one is definitely a harder watch than the first two.

Definitely

It's very uncomfortable

I agree. Maybe it's because his power was so enormous that there didn't seem to be anyone who opposed him, other than Sir Robert Armstrong and Anna Instone at the BBC. Very uncomfortable viewing.

The actress playing Thatcher is very effective

Yes was hard watching tonight

Glad they showed it but also horrible to watch

I'm not sure if I'm going to watch the last episode. I just feel as though I don't want to give him any more of my attention. JS that is, not Steve Coogan.

Wonder if Maggie ever had any doubts

I suspect she didn't Blondes. There was a redacted document released under the 30 year rule showing how close he was:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-jimmy-savile-s-close-friendship-with-margaret-thatcher-8432351.html

The way he emphasised that they were both outsiders and their shared dislike of bureaucracy and closed shops seemed very plausible last night.

What I found very disconcerting last night was that in the clips of the real JS I couldn't feel the discomfort I was looking for in his smiles but I do with Steve Coogan.