BBC One is making drama on paedophile Jimmy Savile

BBC One is making drama on paedophile Jimmy Savile telling story of the disgraced TV star’s rise to fame and the sexual abuse scandal after his death

  • BBC is working with survivors of Savile’s abuse to ensure their stories are told  
  • Executive producer said: ‘We must understand why a man like Jimmy Savile seemed to remain immune for so long to proper scrutiny and investigation’ 
  • Production of the drama has not yet begun and it isn’t known who will play Savile

BBC One is making a drama about paedophile Jimmy Savile and the disgraced star’s rise to fame as he sexually abused hundreds of children.  

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.’ 

Piers Wenger, controller of BBC drama, said: ‘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.

BBC One is making a drama about paedophile Jimmy Savile and the disgraced star’s rise to fame as he sexually abused 72 children

‘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.’

Savile died in 2011 aged 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes.

He is now believed to be one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders.

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

Jimmy Savile in 2012

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’

A 2016 report into his abuse found staff at the BBC, who employed Savile for many years, missed numerous opportunities to stop him.

The Dame Janet Smith review identified 72 victims of Savile in connection with his work at the BBC, including eight who were raped. Eleven of his victims were younger than 12 years old. 

The Metropolitan Police reported that 450 victims came forward saying they were abused by Savile.  

Casting for the series, which has been written by Neil McKay, will be announced at a later date.

Savile was famed in the 1970s and 80s for his BBC TV show Jim’ll Fix It, where children would write to Savile and ask them to make their dreams come true. 

After his death in 2011, ITV released a documentary investigating claims of sexual abuse against him, which kickstarted a police inquiry. 

Savile was found guilty of leveraging his involvement in organisations such as the BBC, charities, hospitals and prison to prey on hundreds of young children.   

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