Viewers were left stunned by Louis Theroux’s Jimmy Savile documentary as a number of new details emerged.
The follow-up to his original 2000 BBC film, which aired on Sunday night, left many people feeling ‘sickened’ and ‘uncomfortable’ during an hour and 15 minutes of powerful viewing.
While interviews with victims of the prolific abuser were harrowing, viewers seemed most affected by Theroux’s chats with Savile’s one-time friends, some of whom still seemed convinced of his innocence.
Savile’s former secretary Janet Cope, who worked alongside the late star for 28 years, told Theroux that she still didn’t believe that he committed any crimes.
“Jim is now lying in an unmarked grave on a hill in Yorkshire and he is not being recognised as being the good person that he was, it makes my hair curl,” she said.
Predictably, Twitter soon exploded with shock, with one viewer writing: “He had to stand and listen to Janet Cope tell him that everything people were saying about Savile was made up. Mind blowing.”
“I feel sorry for Janet. Must be hard to learn the truth #Savile,” wrote another person.
Sylvia Nichol, who worked with Savile on the Stoke Mandewille Appeal, also told Theroux that she had only seen the ‘good’ in the child abuser.
“We had a pretty ghastly time, I’m a victim, his family are victims as much as anyone else is a victim – I’m a victim of losing those memories and that is a pretty big thing out of your life,” she told the filmmaker.
“SYLVIA, you are NOT a victim of anything. You still have good memories #Savile but he sexually abused HUNDREDS of ppl who are STILL alive,” wrote a shocked viewer.
“Astonishing that Sylvia & Janet don't believe he could do those things. He still has a hold on people even in death. #LouisTheroux #Savile,” wrote another.
Someone else posted: “Sylvia is deluded how can she even have an ounce of empathy for this vile pervert #Savile.”
