BBC’s latest docudrama, The Reckoning, centers on a notorious TV personality from the UK. With Steve Coogan playing the protagonist, the mini-series is a documentary about the infamous Jimmy Savile’s involvement in abuse, grooming & other offenses.
Besides showing Jimmy Savile’s life after gaining popularity in the media and the public, this documentary also brings to light the activities that the sexual offender committed secretly and managed to get away with each time.
Savile continued to show a clean image of himself to the public by donating to charities and reaching people’s hearts, a tactic that effectively hid all of his wrongdoings.
After Savile’s passing in 2011, many silenced voices finally spoke out about Jimmy’s predatory nature and offenses. These victims were young women and even children, showing just how easy it was for Jimmy Savile to escape punishment by using his fame.
Although it was met with many controversies and criticism, BBC decided to make a docu-drama about Jimmy Savile’s life in hopes of bringing some sort of justice to Savile’s victims and revealing more about his upbringing and early days in media.
After many delays, due to the controversies and the death of Queen Elizabeth II, The Reckoning finally started airing on television in October 2023. Besides Steve Coogan, the cast includes Gemma Jones in the role of Agnes, Mark Stanley plays Dan, and Robert Emms plays Ray Teret.
The Reckoning: Filming Locations Of The BBC Show
Filming for The Reckoning began sometime in 2021, with Sandra Goldbacher and David Blair as its directors. True to its events, the major filming location for this Jimmy Savile docudrama is England and Wales.
England, United Kingdom:
Most of the scenes that this 60s-themed BBC series features have been filmed in England. Locations like Manchester and Leeds, which is where Jimmy originally gained popularity, were chosen as the prime filming spots for the various flashbacks of Jimmy’s life that we see spread out all over the mini-series.
Located in West Yorkshire, Leeds is a place that’s known for its contributions to various industries & engineering advances. Markets like Kirkgate Market, which have managed to survive decades, are also based in Leeds.
Its shopping spaces and cultural offerings make it a well-known filming location, with movies and TV shows like Peaky Blinders, Secret Invasion, Downtown Abbey, and many others being filmed right here.
Other than Leeds, Manchester, located in northwestern England, was another filming spot for The Reckoning’s crew. Although these places are now known for their thriving economy and various hangout spaces, Manchester was something else back in the 60s.
You may recognize places from Manchester in shows like Euphoria, World on Fire, Coronation Street, and even Sherlock Holmes. What makes Manchester a popular filming location is also its relatively cheaper costs of filming, especially when compared to places like London.
Wales, United Kingdom:
Known for its coastline and National parks, Wales is a perfect culturally diverse place to visit if you’re looking for a quick, adventurous getaway. Besides the pristine blue waters and warm sand, Wales is also home to the intriguing Celtic Welsh language and the friendly Welsh people.
While not as popular as Manchester in terms of being a filming spot, Wales has hosted crews of The Crown, Doctor Who, Harry Potter and Me Before You.
#SteveCoogan filming more scenes for Jimmy Savile controversial #BBC drama #TheReckoning pic.twitter.com/u3fwcoqFFT
— Mr Pål Christiansen (@TheNorskaPaul) December 11, 2021
The Reckoning: About The Series
Taking place in the Swinging Sixties, The Reckoning begins with Jimmy Savile living comfortably in his Salford home and enjoying a cigar while talking to a reporter named Davies, who has come to Savile in hopes of writing his biography.
As Davis questions Jimmy about his life, we get to see flashbacks of these events playing out. Each episode of The Reckoning also features interviews of actual real-life victims of Savile. While only a few survivors remain, the interviews offer a heartbreaking insight into something that would have been lost in time forever.
The 4-episode BBC series shows Jimmy’s increasing indulgence in sexual abuse and how his desperate attempts to protect his so-called legacy ended up working out in his favor and protected him from law and dishonor.
All-new episodes of The Reckoning are now airing on BBC and BBC iPlayer.
