Steve Coogan recorded distressing scenes on Sunday as Jimmy Savile, which was filmed on a Welsh shore. He got in a physical fight with a young girl.
Coogan was 56 and wore a burgundy tracksuit, bleach blonde hairstyle, which was a striking resemblance with Savile. Coogan shot physical scenes together with the actress. She seemed to cry out for help when Coogan grabbed her.
Coogan was filming The Reckoning for BBC, the new BBC drama that focuses on disgraced BBC presenter Savile’s rise in fame and subsequent notoriety as an apredatory sex ofender.
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 as Coogan shook her
Coogan was finally released by the actress, and the two exchanged heated conversations before the latter took her backpack and walked away.
Coogan shouted at the woman, and was seen peering over his shoulder for witnesses.
Crew members were placed in front of the face-mask-wearing actors.
MailOnline has reached representatives of BBC to get clarification on Sunday’s scene context.
Savile photographed with an artist’s view of the female form, 1973. His crimes, which spanned over decades, would eventually be revealed as serial sex offenders.
It was quite uncanny. Coogan was dressed in a burgundy tracksuit with a bleach blonde hairstyle and wore a bright 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: This scene echoes an incident that took place in 1975 when two teenager girls were raped by Savile near Scarborough.
Context: According to The Express, the two 15-year-olds were staying with their parents at a seaside resort near Savile’s second home
The setting is reminiscent of a 1975 incident where two teenager girls were raped by Savile near Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
The Express reported that two of the 15-year olds were visiting their parents in a resort at the seaside near Savile’s second residence.
Savile saw them in the arcades of Scarborough’s seafront as he cruised Scarborough’s Golden Mile on his Rolls-Royce. After luring them inside his car, they ‘drove away and indecently attacked both the girls’.
Crew: Crew members were positioned around the two actors wearing face masks
Spotted: Savile ‘spotted the two girls wandering around arcades on the seafront while cruising Scarborough’s Golden Mile in his Rolls-Royce’
Assault: Savile lured them in his car and ‘drove away’ from the beachfront, where he ‘indecently assaulted’ both of the girls.
Shouting: Coogan shouted after the young woman and was seen looking over his shoulder to check there were no witnesses
The two young girls told their parents about the incident and were taken to Scarborough Police Station to report it. However, they were instructed to “toddle away home” according to the newspaper.
Although Savile has been criticized for his decision to record his life, BBC claims that it worked with the victims of Savile and will present an account ‘with respect and sensitivity’.
Coogan who is well-known for his portrayal of fictional comedian Alan Partridge previously said in a statement, that the decision to play Savile wasn’t one “I made 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
Police: After telling their parents what happened, the two girls were escorted to Scarborough police station to report the 1975 incident
It was shocking: The paper reported that young women were advised to “toddle home”
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
“Neil McKay wrote an intelligent script that tackled sensitively a horrible story, no matter how harrowing it was.
Savile was a British television star who rose from humble working class upbringing. He died at 84 years old in 2011.
In his final years, his efforts to dispel growing speculation regarding his illegal activities throughout his distinguished career with BBC were unsuccessful. The new drama will feature victim testimony.
BBC conducted an inquiry about his conduct and found that at least 72 children were molested by him over a period of four decades. The first victim was in 1959. The last victim was 2006.
He said, “Neil McKay wrote an intelligent script that tackles sensitively a horrible story, no matter how harrowing it may be.”
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
The new BBC drama will bring victim testimony to life
According to their report, 2016, the abuser’s horrific reign can be seen ‘in all of the BBC’s dressing rooms, corridors, canteens and staircases’.
Jeff Pope, executive producer said that he believes this story must be told. It is important to understand how Jimmy Savile escaped being subject to criminal and proper scrutiny.
“Steve can inhabit complicated characters with extraordinary ease and will take on this role in the highest regard of integrity and care.”
The glory days: Savile received the OBE from Buckingham Palace in 1972. (pictured). His appearances on Top Of The Pops, Jim’ll Fix It made him a British institution. He would never be identified as a predator until his death in 2011.
BBC says that it will also draw upon ‘extensive, wide-ranging research resources’ for the project. This includes examining Savile’s crimes over time and the feelings of ‘powerlessness’ felt by his victims.
Piers Wenger Controller from BBC Drama said: “The Jimmy Savile story is one of most poignant and disturbing of all time. These crimes are not sensationalistically portrayed, but we want to speak for his victims.
“We will collaborate with survivors to make sure their stories are told with dignity and respect. We also plan to investigate the institutions that Jimmy Savile worked for and the circumstances under which they occurred.
“Drama can tackle real-life sensitive subjects. It also allows for the consideration of the effects on survivors of crime and the lessons that could be learned to prevent it from happening again.
It is not yet known when the series will be released. Filming continues in Manchester, with the project expected to air over the following 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’