Image of evil, blond Coogan as Savile

IN a striking platinum blond wig, this is Steve Coogan transformed to play his most controversial role yet – notorious paedophile DJ Jimmy Savile. Coogan, 56, was pictured yesterday filming scenes for BBC drama The Reckoning. The actor, best known for playing comedy roles such as Alan Partridge, wore a beige checked coat and dark red trousers. He got into a classic Rolls-Royce outside a Mecca Dance Hall in Manchester for a scene believed to be from the early 1960s.

The drama will tell the story of radio and TV presenter Savile’s rise and the sex abuse scandal that emerged after his death aged 84 in 2011.

Coogan has said his decision to play Savile was not taken lightly. The miniseries has already been criticised, with lawyers for Savile’s victims questioning whether it was right for the BBC to make the programme as it ‘facilitated’ the DJ’s campaign of abuse.

A review in 2016 found that the corporation missed opportunities to stop his monstrous crimes.

The BBC has said the drama, which has no screening date, will be sensitive, respectful and ‘give voice to the victims’.