Steve Coogan filmed distressing scenes as Jimmy Savile for new drama, The Reckoning, on a Welsh beach on Sunday – in which he got into a physical altercation with a young woman.
The 56-year-old actor’s resemblance to paedophile Savile was uncanny, with Coogan dressed in a burgundy tracksuit and bleach blonde wig as he filmed the physical scenes with the young actress, who appeared to scream for help as Coogan shook her.
Coogan was filming the latest scenes for the new BBC drama about disgraced presenter Savile’s rise to fame and posthumous notoriety as a predatory sex offender.
Distressing: Steve Coogan, 56, filmed distressing scenes as Jimmy Savile on a Welsh beach on Sunday in which he appeared to get into a physical altercation with a young woman
Altercation: Coogan filmed physical scenes with the young actress, who appeared to scream for help during the dramatic scene as Coogan’s Savile shook her
After breaking free from Coogan’s grasp, the actress exchanged heated words with the actor in the dramatic scene – believed to depict an attempted sex attack on a Scarborough beach in 1962 – before picking up her blue rucksack and walking away.
Coogan’s Savile was seen shouting after the young woman and was seen looking over his shoulder to check there were no witnesses.
Crew members were positioned around the two actors wearing face masks.
Old times: Savile photographed next to an artist’s impression of the female form in 1973. He would later be exposed as a serial sex offender with his crimes spanning decades
Uncanny: The actor’s resemblance to Savile was uncanny, with Coogan dressed in a burgundy tracksuit and bleach blonde wig
New drama: Coogan was filming The Reckoning, a new BBC drama about the disgraced presenter’s rise to fame and posthumous notoriety as a predatory sex offender
Storyline: The setting echoes a 1975 incident in which two teenage girls reported Savile for indecent assault after he lured them into his car near a holiday park in Scarborough
Horrifying: The scene took place on a beach and is believed to depict an attempted sex attack in 1962 in Scarborough – a place which Savile had many links to
The setting also echoes a 1975 incident in which two teenage girls reported Savile for indecent assault after he lured them into his car near a holiday park in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
According to The Express, the two 15-year-olds were staying with their parents at a seaside resort near Savile’s second home.
Savile ‘spotted them wandering around arcades on the seafront while cruising Scarborough’s Golden Mile in his Rolls-Royce’ and after luring them into his vehicle, ‘drove away from the seafront and indecently assaulted both girls’.
Crew: Crew members were positioned around the two actors wearing face masks
Terrifying: Steve and the actress threw themselves into the dramatic scenes for filming
Battle: The actress was seen wrestling with Coogan during the horrifying scene
Shouting: Coogan’s Savile wa seen to shout after the young woman and was seen looking over his shoulder to check there were no witnesses
After telling their parents what happened, the two girls were escorted to Scarborough police station to report the incident, however were told to ‘toddle off home’, according to the paper.
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’.
Coogan, who famously portrays fictional comedic character Alan Partridge, previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one ‘I took lightly’.
Breaking free: After breaking free from Coogan’s grasp, the actress exchanged heated words with the actor before picking up her blue rucksack and walking away
Horror: Steve was seen taking direction from the crew ahead of filming
Shocking:The actress was seen carrying a bag as she walked off the beach
Under fire: 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’
Explanation: Coogan 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.
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.
He added: ‘Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively a horrific story which, however harrowing, needs to be told’
Death: Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television’s biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011
Final years: In his final years, he fought to quell growing speculation about his illegal exploits throughout his illustrious career with the BBC
Brought to life: Victim testimony expected to be brought to life in the new BBC drama
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.
‘Steve has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity.’
The glory days: Savile was awarded the OBE at Buckingham Palace in 1972 (pictured) He became a British institution thanks to his appearances on Top Of The Pops and Jim’ll Fix It and would not be exposed as a dangerous predator until after his death in 2011
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.
‘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.
For confidential support for adults who suffered any type of abuse in childhood call NAPAC on 0808 801 0331, free from landlines and mobiles, or click here for details.
Vile: A BBC-led inquiry into Savile’s actions found he had molested at least 72 children, some as young as eight, over a four decade campaign of sexual abuse
Shocking: His horrific reign of abuse could be charted ‘in the corridors, canteens, staircases and dressing rooms of every BBC premises’