Controversial new BBC series The Reckoning has recreated the moment Jimmy Savile greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales at the 1983 opening of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. 

Steve Coogan is the role of the disgraced Dj in this drama. He looked stunning as he kissed Princess Diana in one touching scene.   

Due to Savile’s status as a celebrity fundraiser, the presenter held the opening – with it later emerging he sexually abused 60 people, including seriously ill eight-year-olds, over two decades at the hospital.  

Throwback: Controversial new BBC series The Reckoning has recreated the moment Jimmy Savile greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales at the 1983 opening of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Throwback: The Reckoning, a controversial new BBC show has recreated Jimmy Savile’s greeting to the Prince and Princess Of Wales during the opening ceremony of the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Terrible: Due to Savile's status as a celebrity fundraiser, the presenter was invited to the opening - with it later emerging he sexually abused 60 people, including seriously ill eight-year-olds, over two decades at the hospital

Terrible: Savile was invited to the event due to his celebrity status and ability to raise money for charities. It later emerged that he had sexually assaulted 60 people over the course of two decades, which included eight-year olds who were very ill, during the time he worked at the hospital.

They visited the Royals two years after they were married. A NHS investigation revealed that the BBC Star had at most 10 complaints about him dating back to 1972. But none of them were seriously taken into consideration. 

A TV personality inspired and initiated an appeal to build the National Spinal Injuries Center. 

This damning report details Savile’s abuse of the NHS over many decades and how the NHS management ignored him because of his celebrity and the large sums of money he donated to charity. 

The victims included a girl who was raped 10 more times in her visit to the hospital that she lived with. Investigation revealed that no complaints had been ‘taken seriously’ or escalated to the top management.

In total, he abused 177 patients between the ages of five and 75 in 41 hospitals. He was most known for his abuse at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. 

Transformed: In the scenes filmed last week, Coogan sported an uncanny resemblance to the DJ with his hair bleached white and a grey suit and red tie which was identical to the one he wore for the 1983 visit

Disgraced: Savile pictured in 1983

Transformed

Similar: The costume department recreated Princess Diana's iconic wardrobe with the actress sporting a pale blue silk dress and ribbon trim hat

Royal: Diana pictured at the opening in 1983

Similar: The costume department recreated Princess Diana’s iconic wardrobe with the actress, whose name is yet to be announced,  sporting a pale blue silk dress and ribbon trim hat

Creepy: Steve Coogan, who is playing the role of the disgraced DJ in the upcoming drama, looked his spitting image as he was pictured kissing Princess Diana's hand in one poignant scene

Crying: Steve Coogan is the disgraced DJ and was seen in one scene kissing Princess Diana.

Charity work: The National Spinal Injuries Centre was built as the result of an appeal initiated and inspired by the TV personality, with Prince Charles arriving for the opening (

Decades ago: Charles pictured in 1983

Charitable work: Prince Charles arrived at the National Spinal Injuries Center’s opening in 1983 as a result of an appeal by the television personality. 

Coogan, who wore the exact same suit and tie he wore during the 1983 visit to Radiohead last week, looked uncannily like the DJ in scenes shot this week. 

With Princess Diana, the costume department recreated her iconic look with her. 

The new drama, which will be broadcasted by the BBC, will trace the disgraced former star’s upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences.   

Shocking: The royals' visit came two years into their marriage- and according to an NHS investigation the late BBC star had at least 10 complaints against him going as far back to 1972, but none were taken seriously

It was shocking: Two years after their union, the royals visited. According to an NHS investigation, at least 10 complaints were made against BBC’s late star from as far back 1972. However none of these complaints were considered serious.

Disgraced DJ: The damning NHS report detailed Savile's decades of abuse across the NHS and how management turned a blind eye because of his fame and the amount of cash he raised for charity

Disgraced DJ – The shocking NHS report details Savile’s decades of abuse in the NHS, and how managers turned a blind owing to Savile’s fame and the money that he collected for charity

Awful: Victims included a young girl raped 10 times when she visited the hospital where her parents worked. The investigation found that none of the complaints were 'either taken seriously or escalated to senior management'

The victims included a teenage girl who was raped 10 more times while she was visiting the hospital her parents were working. According to an investigation, none of these complaints were taken seriously nor escalated to higher management.

Harrowing: The new drama, which will be broadcasted by the BBC , will trace the disgraced former star's upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences

Harrowing: BBC will broadcast the new drama that will explore the life of former Star, the early years and the prolific child sex crimes.

Recreating 1983 visit: The actress bore a striking resemblance to the late Princess Of Wales in the pale blue midi dress and white court shoes

Filming: She was pictured smiling on set

Revealing 1983: The actress wore a pale blue midi gown and white court heels, which resembled the late Princess of Wales.

BBC drama: As the cameras rolled, Steve got into character as he chatted to Princess Diana

BBC drama: Steve became a character while he talked to Princess Diana.

Many have criticized the BBC’s decision to document Savile’s life. However, BBC stated they had worked closely with Savile’s victims and would present a story “with sensitivity and respect”. 

Steve Partridge is a famous comedic actor who has previously stated that he did not take lightly the decision to portray Savile.

He said, “Neil McKay’s intelligent script tackles sensitively an horrific story that, though it is harrowing to tell.” 

Savile was a British television star who rose from humble beginnings to achieve success. He died in 2011 at age 84.

TV star: Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television's biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011

Television star: Savile died in 2011, aged 84. He was a British TV’s most beloved and successful personality.

New drama: In his final years, he fought to quell growing speculation about his illegal exploits throughout his illustrious career with the BBC - with victim testimony expected to be brought to life in the new drama

New drama

Sexual predator: A BBC-led inquiry into his actions found he had molested at least 72 children, some as young as eight, over a four decade campaign of sexual abuse with his first victim in 1959 and his last in 2006

Sexual predator: The BBC conducted an inquiry and found that he had sexually abused at least 72 children in a campaign of abuse over four decades. He was his first victim in 1959. He was his last victim in 2006.

He tried to end the speculation surrounding his illegal activities throughout his distinguished career with BBC. The new drama will feature victim testimony. 

 A BBC-led inquiry into his actions found he had molested at least 72 children, some as young as eight, over a four decade campaign of sexual abuse with his first victim in 1959 and his last in 2006. 

According to their report, 2016, the abuser’s horrific reign can be seen ‘in all of the BBC’s dressing rooms, corridors and canteens as well as on staircases.

Horrific: His reign of abuse could be charted 'in the corridors, canteens, staircases and dressing rooms of every BBC premises', their 2016 report found

Horrific: Their 2016 report revealed that his reign of abuse could have been charted “in the corridors..canteens.stairways and dressing rooms at every BBC property”.

Jeff Pope, executive producer said that he believes this story must be told. Why did Jimmy Savile seem to be so resistant to being examined and investigated by the law? 

“Steve can inhabit complicated characters with extraordinary ease and will take on this role in the highest regard of integrity and care.”

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. 

Paedophile: He went onto abuse a total of 177 patients, aged between five and 75, across 41 hospitals. Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire was where his abuse was most prolific

A paedophile was a man who abused 177 people between the ages of five and 75 in 41 hospitals. His abuses were most frequent at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire.

Controversial: 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'

Controversial. Many have criticized the decision to document Savile’s life. However, BBC stated they had worked with Savile’s victims and would present a story “with sensitivity and respect”.

Jovial: Coogan put on an animated display as he threw his hands wide to greet the royals

Jovial: Coogan put on an animated display as he threw his hands wide to greet the royals

Jovial – Coogan performed a lively display when he opened both his hands to the royals 

In character: Steve was pictured chatting to spectators in character as filming got under way

As a character: Steve was seen talking to viewers as the filming began. 

Action! A number of cast members were on hand to help recreate the scenes with one woman waving a flag

Action! Action! 

Hidden in plain sight: Savile was a much loved public figure in life, but he would be exposed as a serial sexual predator following his death in 2011. Here he is pictured at the Wren House International Telephone Exchange in 1975

Savile is hidden in plain view: Although he was beloved by the public, his sexual abuse of women would eventually be discovered. Here he is pictured at the Wren House International Telephone Exchange in 1975

Piers Wenger Controller of BBC Drama added that the story of Jimmy Savile was one of today’s most troubling and emotive. This is not a sensationalization of these crimes, we just want to be there for the 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 has the power to deal with sensitive topics in real life and to consider the effect of a crime upon its victims and to learn lessons to avoid it happening again.

The release date is yet to be revealed, but filming will continue in Manchester for the next few months.  

In the works: A release date has yet to be announced with filming for the series expected to continue taking place in Manchester over the coming months

Filming continues in Manchester.