BBC, Theroux revisit Savile

BBC2 in the UK has ordered a documentary from Louis Theroux that will explore the life of predatory sex offender and former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.

The show, as yet untitled, will be made in-house and follows up on Theroux’s 2000 doc When Louis Met Jimmy, which failed to expose Savile’s secret life.

Following that programme, Theroux maintained a friendship with Savile and he will now revisit the people introduced with him during that time as well as some of his victims, friends and family.

It’s been commissioned by Kim Shillinglaw, controller at BBC2 and Patrick Holland, head of commissioning for documentaries, with Aysha Rafaele exec producing.

Shillinglaw said: “BBC2 should be part of the national conversation and this challenging subject matter is the kind I want to see on the channel.”

Revelations about Savile’s paedophilia only emerged after his death and rocked the UK pubcaster, partly forcing its then-director general to leave his post after just 54 days in charge.

Theroux’s previous docs for BBC2 include The Most Hated Family In America, Transgender Kids and By Reason Of Insanity.