A new BBC television drama, The Reckoning, telling the story of paedophile DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile has filmed scenes in Salford.
The University’s Peel Building , which was formerly the office of artist LS Lowry, was transformed into Leeds General Infirmary during episode one of the series.
Savile is played by Manchester’s own Steve Coogan in the series, which looks at his meteoric rise to fame in the showbiz world – and the dark secrets that accompanied his journey.
Savile was known as something of a national treasure BBC favourite hosting shows such as Jim”ll Fix It and Top Of The Pops.
He died in 2011 aged 84 as an innocent man however a year later his profile as a sexual abuser was exposed and his charitable façade was destroyed.
Over the course of 54 years Savile targeted more than 400 people aged from five to 75.
Due to the severity of Jimmy Savile’s case, the programme has attracted some controversy.
“It is controversial and I understand that,” Coogan told the Radio Times. “The BBC are dammed if they do and dammed if they don’t.”
During an interview with BBC News Coogan acknowledged the pressure of the role as he said: “It’s quite a burden, quite a responsibility for me as an actor in the way I had to portray Jimmy Savile.”
In a review The Guardian said: “To watch The Reckoning is to come away depressed but unenlightened.”
“The programme does an impressive job of Savile’s actions without forcing us to look directly at them,” inews wrote in their review.
The series aired on October 9 and all episode are available to view on BBC iplayer now.
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