“I worked with Jimmy Savile and Steve Coogan’s portrayal made my skin creep”

'I felt sick actually'

Not only are average viewers blown away by Coogan, but even those that knew Savile too.

Journalist and television personality, Janet Street-Porter, is the latest celebrity to come out and hail Coogan's performance saying that as someone who knew Savile for years, Coogan's portrayal made her feel sick.

Speaking on Loose Women, Street-Porter said she had worked with Savile years ago at the BBC.

She appeared on a number of shows with Savile and worked as an executive with the light entertainment department.

While Street-Porter didn't produce any shows with Savile himself, she met him numerous times.

Describing Coogan as a "fine actor", Street-Porter said: "I could hardly watch it actually."

She added: "The idea that he reappeared in my living room, that portrayal actually made my flesh creep. I felt sick, actually.. It had a very, very powerful effect on me.”

Street-Porter then referenced a scene in episode one where Savile lures two young girls backstage at a dancehall.

Having attended similar events in her own youth, she said: "There were girls that used to go backstage with the DJ and hung out with the groupies, everybody knows that.

“But what upsets me about this drama is it doesn’t really add anything to what we already know about Jimmy Savile.

“What we know now and what we ignored or didn’t want to think about at the time.”

Street-Porter then said that she would've preferred the show to be a documentary on how all of this took place without anyone noticing - a sentiment many other viewers have echoed online.

Related links:

• Steve Coogan defends controversial Jimmy Savile role in BBC show
• Jimmy Savile’s words when he entered Big Brother house will never be aired again
• Disturbing Jimmy Savile hospital scene leaves The Reckoning viewers sickened