Oh Dear, Is this wise?
Monstrous, wicked…
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There is no absolution for bbc, they knew more than they will ever disclose. Not interested in any documentary.
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And they wonder why people are cancelling their tv licences…
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The usual double standards from the BBC. They refuse to show Saville on old Top of the Pops repeats but they will make a drama about him.
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I’m trying to decide what makes a drama about this particular criminal worse than any other. Is it because a drama is being made about it at all …or is it that the BBC that are doing it about one who used to be their own?
Films, dramas and/or documentaries are made about criminals quite frequently showing the whys and wherefores of how they got away with it. Maybe we can all think of other pretty evil characters who have been dramatized or had documentaries made about them. One recent highly praised TV drama has been about Dennis Nilsen. Think about what he did, yet people watched it.
I will probably want to see what a researching dramatist makes of what Saville got away with as well.
I’m not really interested in Jimmy Savile, Dennis Nilsen or any other murderer or abuser. I don’t care why they did it, and it certainly isn’t what I call entertainment. I just despair at the depths that present day TV is resorting to in order to justify their existence. All the decent sport has been swept up by subscription channels, and there’s not one sitcom that can compare to Faulty Towers, Allo Allo, or Porridge.
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I don’t want to come across as taking an undue interest but it’s not a ‘these days’ thing on TV. I don’t think its ‘a sinking to the depths’ issue either. There have always been criminologists analysing why people have done what they did and making documentaries and dramas about them. Before that, books were written.
I understand that some don’t want to know though.
Edit: …and I too really like Faulty Towers, Allo Allo, Porridge and Dad’s Army.
I understand what you mean Mart, and to me, there is a big difference between a documentary and a play, or drama.
I saw bits of that one you mentioned about Nilsen.
They have also recently sown a documentary about The Kray Twins, and Ian Brady & Hindley, and that school caretaker who killed the Soham school girls, and many more famous cases. So really, why is that old pervert Saville any worse than those child killers?
I would not like to see it turned into a play, but that’s completely different to a crime documentary to me.
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Whoops, my apoligies, just had another look at the link and I see it is not a crime documentary at all. It seems to be going to be a drama series?
If so, I think that is very wrong and an insult to the vicitms.
Wonder if it will be just an excuse to exonerate the Beeb from failing to recognise Savile for what he was?
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I suspect - I hope - that this will turn even more people against the BBC.
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Documentaries are very often have dramatized parts in them because they make it easier to understand how the situation was.
As you say, Mups, all those other dreadful crimes and the behaviour of the perpetrators have also been dramatized on TV. They have been for years. 10 Rillington Place for instance.
If we condemn such dramas, why not plays, films and documentaries about Hitler, Amin, Mussolini and others who surely caused misery for millions including children? Is it somehow not so bad having dramas and films about their lives and crimes?
Perhaps it would have been different if the show had been made by a non-BBC company. I have a feeling that the BBC production might turn out to be slightly pro-Savile.
Yes, that’s what I was thinking about (my first post). Whether what made it different was the fact the BBC were televising a drama about someone who used to be one of their own in a big way.
I suppose no slant could possibly put on it that would diminish what happened. I won’t give an opinion on it when/if watched, even though I’d be in agreement with others about what he did. I wouldn’t want to comment after the drama on something that people don’t want to hear.
I just question why a drama shouldn’t be made of it when many dramas have been made about other criminals who indeed cause people to shudder but plays/films about them haven’t caused disgust.
It is all very well going on about the BBC but what about the royal family, Margaret Thatcher, the church, etc who all fell under his spell.
A play, probably a mini-series, woud be a good thing if it was suitably researched and well written with the aim of possibly providing what his trial might have provided - closure, reasons, motives etc and maybe why what was an open secret or, at least, pretty thinly veiled one, was allowed to perpetuate for so many years.
If, however, it turns out to be a cheap taboidy bit of sensationalism it would be appalling.
I think these are more from a history point of view Mart, and very few (if any) of the victims are still alive. Victims from Jim’s exploits will still be suffering the mental anguish and probably just want to forget and be left in peace. This drama will open a whole new can of worms for them.
It looks like consent has been given. As I read the article linked to in the OP, the BBC/dramatists/researchers say, quote…
The team are working closely with those who were impacted by Savile to ensure their stories are told with respect, while also drawing on extensive research sources to look at the impact his crimes had on the victims.
It might be that some would want the story told because they never got the opportunity to have their say in a Courtroom.
We’ll see how the drama unfolds …or I probably will.
I don’t mind them putting these programmes on, because I can switch to another channel if I don’t want to watch them.
I tried to watch the Dennis Nilsen one but was bored to tears , so found something else to watch.
What annoys me is that those who enjoy it can watch it, but then we have to go through the constant ads telling us that we can still watch on on the channels Hubs. It seem that we have ads for a few weeks telling us that it will be on TV , and then more ads telling us it is on the Hub!:mad2:
Surely those who wanted to watch it would have recorded it they if were unable to view on the nights it was shown!:roll:
Good point. Not only did they fall under his spell but they kept quiet about it and as far as I know, Saville is still a Sir. :shock:
Cheers Mart, I’ll look forward to reading your assessment of the drama…