TV & Film
Steve Coogan makes viewers ‘feel sick’ in new BBC Jimmy Savile drama
Some viewers said it made their ‘flesh creep’
Steve Coogan made viewers ‘feel sick’ with his portrayal of paedophile TV presenter Jimmy Savile in new drama The Reckoning.
Viewers are hailing the Manchester comedian and actor’s performance, calling for him to be given awards for his portrayal of the notorious former DJ.
Coogan has taken on the role in a new BBC crime drama which follows the life of Jimmy Savile, the paedophile who enjoyed a successful career as a radio DJ and TV presenter from the ‘70s onwards.
Savile died at the age of 84 in 2011, and after his death the full extent of the horrific sexual abuse he committed against children and young people came to light.
Coogan, born in Middleton, is best known for his parody character Alan Partridge, a socially inept and politically incorrect broadcaster.
But fans who tuned in to watch the disturbing and at times hard to watch drama were stunned by the comic’s accurate portrayal of the disgraced media personality.
The first episode of The Reckoning aired yesterday, Monday October 9th, with some viewers saying it made their ‘flesh creep’.
However, many pointed out how impressive Coogan’s performance was in such a serious role, much different to his usual work.
Fans took to Twitter to call for the 55-year-old to win a BAFTA for his performance.
One person tweeted: “Six minutes in; give Steve Coogan the BAFTA now. Absolutely chilled to the bone. #TheReckoning.”
Another said: “I wasn’t convinced this was a good idea but what a job Steve Coogan is doing, it sounds so much like Savile that it’s making my skin crawl just hearing his voice.”
While a third posted: “Steve Coogan is absolutely outstanding in #thereckoning. Bone chillingly accurate voice, mannerisms, etc. So convincing that I feel nauseous watching him.”
There’s been mixed opinions and some intense backlash surrounding the making of the BBC drama about the paedophile, with some thinking it is the right choice and others claiming they will not be watching it.
However, Coogan himself believes the drama’s producers and broadcasters made the ‘correct choice’, telling the Radio Times: “It is controversial and I understand that.
“The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, and I believe the correct choice is to be damned if they do. Broadly, it’s better to talk about something than not”.
The four-part BBC drama, which has spent a long time in production, tells the story of how Savile rose from a working class background to become one of the most well-known celebrities in the UK.
He started as a DJ playing in Northern dance halls, before eventually becoming a famous and well-connected radio DJ and TV presenter, known for wearing shell suits and smoking cigars.
The series follows his sexual crimes and the impact they had on his victims, while highlighting the importance of ‘talking openly about abuse’ and ‘confronting the horrors of the past’ – including historical abuse.
More than 450 allegations came to light after Savile’s death in 2011. He died of pneumonia at home in his Leeds penthouse. He evaded justice and hid in plain sight throughout his career.
The Reckoning airs on Monday and Tuesday nights on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm.
TV & Film
Netflix launch first trailer for new Harlan Coben thriller with Michelle Keegan
Can’t wait to watch this!
The official trailer for the new crime thriller from Harlan Coben has landed on Netflix and it looks incredible.
Fool Me Once, the eighth adaptation of the author’s novels, will arrive on TV screens on New Year’s Day, ready for viewers to hibernate and enjoy a binge fest after a hectic party season.
The new series follows the success of its predecessors including Safe, Stay Close, and The Stranger and is expected to be yet another suspenseful hit to add to the collection.
The cast sees the familiar face of fellow Mancunian Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street, Our Girl and Brassic), as well as Richard Armitage, Adeel Akhtar, and Joanna Lumley – some of whom are Coben thriller veterans.
The plot follows Maya Stern, played by Keegan, a former special ops pilot who’s struggling to come to terms with the tragic murder of her husband, Joe, played by Armitage.
But after installing a nanny-cam to watch over her daughter, Maya sees a man in her house she recognises – her dead husband.
Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce is leading the homicide investigation into Joe’s death, whilst also battling secrets of his own.
Meanwhile, Maya’s niece and nephew are dealing with their own mother’s murder, which occurred a few months earlier, and they’re on the hunt for answers – could the two cases be connected?
Coben, who is executive producer on the series and has seen a number of his works adapted for the streaming service in the past, said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to once again be collaborating with my uber-talented partners.
“Fool Me Once will be our fourth Netflix series together, and man, it never gets old! Fool Me Once is a pulse-pounder – a shocking story of how secrets and deceit have the power to bring people together while simultaneously tearing them apart. I can’t wait to see how this dream cast brings these characters to life.”
Danny Brocklehurst, who has written and directed the series adaptation, said: “Following on from our smash hits The Stranger and Stay Close, Fool Me Once does not disappoint.
“Harlan’s books are storytelling genius and it’s great to be entrusted once more in bringing his gripping stories of life. As always with our thrillers, expect twist upon twist and an emotional roller-coaster. Plus, the cast is phenomenal – audiences are in for a treat!”
Fool Me Once will be released on Netflix on January 1st, 2024 at 8am.
The BBC has confirmed the launch date for the second series of the reality game show The Traitors.
Fans of the show will be pleased to hear the nail-biting reality game show set in the Scottish Highlands and hosted by Claudia Winkleman is set to land on TV screens very soon.
The tense game sees 22 strangers move into a castle to play the ‘ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust’ by completing a series of challenges together as a team in the hope of winning up to £120,000.
Among the ‘Faithful’ contestants are ‘Traitors’ hiding in plain sight secretly looking to sabotage the game and eliminate their fellow players one by one.
And the good news is fans don’t have much longer to wait for the new series, with the BBC announcing the hugely anticipated show will launch on Wednesday, January 3rd at 9.00pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Episodes will air weekly on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.
Confirming the news on Twitter, the BBC tweeted alongside a sneak peek trailer: “#TheTraitors Series 2, coming to #BBCOne & #iPlayer on 3 Jan 2023.”
Episodes two and three will be available to watch on iPlayer immediately after and the show will air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The contestants are yet to be announced, but according to the BBC, ‘all will be revealed in due course…’.
The broadcaster has also confirmed that we can expect a third season in the future, with casting now open for anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to deceive their fellow contestants and claim the winning prize. To apply click HERE.
The debut series had us all hooked when it landed on screens last year. Since then The Traitors has scooped a host of awards including a Bafta TV Award for best reality and constructed factual, and a National Television Award for best reality competition.
It also won the Royal Television Society (RTS) award for entertainment as well as the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for best entertainment programme.
With series two dropping soon and casting open for a third instalment, the BBC website says about the show: “The Traitors is a competition series built on strategy and suspicion, filmed in the Scottish Highlands. A team of players will compete in a series of missions, the more missions they win, the bigger the prize pot.
“However, amongst the players lie the ‘Traitors’. The Traitors will meet in secret and decide who to eliminate from their fellow players known as the ‘Faithfuls’.
“The aim for the Traitors is to stay undetected until the end, the aim for the Faithful is the banish all of the Traitors before the game ends. Throughout the series, there will be twists, turns, shocks and surprises for the players.
“A game of trust and treachery… do you have what it takes to play?”
Taking to Instagram to share the announcement with her followers, host Claudia Winkleman teased: “Watch your back. The Traitors starts 9pm on January 3rd, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (everything crossed you like it).”
Fans went wild and jumped in the comments section with one person typing: “I’m so ready to make this my whole personality once again.”
Another wrote: “Yasssss! I can’t wait.” And a third tagged their mate saying: “We need to watch this together!!! Traitors sleepover pending?”
The Traitors series two will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9.00pm on January 3rd 2024.
Showbiz stars have called for viewers to boycott I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! after Nigel Farage joins the jungle camp line-up.
Fans have been left outraged after the official line-up for the hit ITV show was announced and included former UKIP member and controversial politician Nigel Farage.
To make matters worse, he’s set to be the highest paid person in the history of the show when he enters the camp.
The reality programme, which has been going since 2002, has been no stranger to controversy. Just last year, the public were left outraged that Conservative MP Matt Hancock was a contestant on the show after the scandal of MPs having parties during the Covid lockdowns.
The disgraced former Health Secretary joined the series after being sacked for breaking Covid restrictions. It was reported that he was paid £400,000 to be on the show.
This year’s line-up includes the sister of Brittany Spears, Jamie-Lynn Spears, This Morning presenter Jodie Gibson and First Dates’ star Fred Siriex.
In response to Farage joining the camp, a number of TV stars have called for a mass boycott of the show, which is due to air on November 19th.
Comedian Laura Hughes has spoken out to say that if she were included in the line-up, she would immediately quit the show and sue ITV.
She said: “If I went on I’m A Celebrity and found out I was on the show with Nigel Farage, I’d leave and sue for racial negligence… but that’s just me.
“I’d say that I’m quite shocked that ITV is platforming a racist as a form of entertainment, but nothing really surprises me anymore.”
Kathy Burke also didn’t mince her words as she said: “Quick, there’s another hate baiting c**t available.”
Journalist Bella Mackie took to Instagram to share that she would not be tuning in to watch the series. “He’s apparently being paid £1.5 million,” she said, before listing all the reprehensible comments Farage has made over the years.
She included him taking specific aim at Romanian people, people with HIV and the Aids virus, and saying women are ‘worth less’ to employers.
Calling for her followers to take action, she said: “I sincerely hope people don’t watch I’m A Celebrity if he’s on it this year. For real. How is this entertainment?”
Conservative MP Edwina Currie said last week that Farage’s involvement in I’m A Celebrity could change the face of politics forever.
Meanwhile, the show’s presenters Ant and Dec have been put under pressure by viewers and other celebrities to address the controversy of Farage’s appointment.
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