The BBC has commissioned a new drama about the life of Jimmy Savile.

Jimmy Savile

Jimmy Savile

Jeff Pope will executive produce the mini-series, which has the current working title 'The Reckoning' and will trace the life of the disgraced, late entertainer, who was exposed as a paedophile after his death.

In a statement, Jeff 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."

It's not yet known who will play eccentric showman Savile, who rose from a working class background to become one of the biggest stars on British TV before his eventual post-death downfall.

The drama will look at how he used his involvement in numerous organisations within hospitals, prisons, charities, and the BBC to legitimise himself.

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.

"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."'The Reckoning' will be produced by Neil McKay and Jeff, who previously produced crime drama film 'Appropriate Adult', about the true story of serial killer Fred West and his relationship with his appropriate adult.   

Savile died in October 2011, and almost a year after his death, ITV aired a documentary that focused on the sexual abuse complaints made against him.

Following his passing at the age of 84, hundreds of women came forward to claim he sexually abused them when they were children, while other victims claimed they were subjected to assaults as adults.

The shamed TV star appeared in a documentary about his life alongside Louis Theroux in 2000, entitled 'When Louis Met... Jimmy'.

In 2019, Louis admitted he was still troubled by the "friendly" relationship he shared with Savile.

He developed a friendship with the 'Top of the Pops' host following the making of his documentary, for which he spent a significant amount of time with Savile and was given unprecedented access to his home life.

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