gina_lollobrigida | Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (mini series, 2022)

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (mini series, 2022). two episodes, each lasting approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. netflix docu-crime series about an eccentric British entertainer who appeared in a wide variety of TV programmes from 1955 to 2009, and was particularly popular in children’s programmes during the 1970s and 1980s. he turned out to be a paedophile throughout his entire TV career, i.e. for over 50 years.

he was at the heart of British mainstream culture for many MANY years (in particular, he appeared on the legendary Top of the Pops). throughout his life, he was a major philanthropist and raised funds for all sorts of hospitals, but there was a dark personal motive behind this. It is a pity, of course, that he died before the avalanche of allegations came to light. there are many reasons for such a delayed reaction. with the advent of the internet, alternative sources of information emerged, alongside the major newspapers, TV and radio. after he died, it seems the higher elite circles were less inclined to defend him. and, in his peak, he mesmerised the whole country and its elite with his talent. there really were some fascinating stories for that time.

the first episode will be of interest to anyone unfamiliar with his name, as it recounts his backstory in detail through archive footage – something that is a bit rare in true crime – and much of the footage looks very grim in context. however, I was puzzled by its tone; it almost goes overboard in praising him. If viewed out of context, one might not even realise that we’re talking about a paedophile.

the second episode begins with a more detailed analysis of his crimes, but I felt it wasn’t enough. this really needed to be spread over at least three episodes. there simply wasn’t enough time for the victims, which were around 400 cases only documented. quite possibly thousands over the years.

overall, it's interesting, but nasty true crime series. proceed at your own risk.