Sunday, April 17, 2022

Not Recommended

15 Ramadhan, 1443

Watched the two longish episodes of the documentary Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story on Netflix over the last few days, and rather wished I hadn't. Not good viewing for fasting month when I really should be focusing on higher things since it's difficult to get any lower than the egregious Savile.

The deeply worrying thing about the whole saga was, of course, just how acceptable he made himself as a 'celebrity' - almost a national treasure in his final years - when it was obvious that there was something terminally creepy about him. I remember trying to explain to Noi who he was when she first saw him on the telly in the UK in the early 2000s and realising how genuinely revolting she found him - and immediately appreciating how right she was to do so. In self defence I should say I never liked the guy, but is that defence enough?

The protracted testimony of one of his victims featuring towards the end of the documentary was deeply disturbing in the best way. It didn't allow you to escape the grisly reality of it all and how an entire culture had failed. Another reason not to feel good about being British at this sad point in time.

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