The drama series details the life of notorious sexual offender Jimmy Savile looks at how he used his position and influence to cement himself as an unsuspecting serial abuser.

The series has been the centre of controversy following criticism that it could bring up painful memories for Savile’s many victims.

Speaking to the press, the BBC’s chief content office Charlotte Moore said that the BBC “has a strong track record” in factual drama about controversial subjects and stressed that “it would not be right for me to censor ideas from very respected writers who have written about similar subjects in the past”.

The BBC confirmed that four survivors of Savile’s abuse who contributed to the drama will feature in the series and will be interviewed on camera to provide further insight and reflection on their difficult experiences.

The factual drama also aims to examine the impact his crimes had on his victims and the powerlessness many felt when they tried to raise the alarm.

Get ready for The Reckoning, the controversial BBC drama about the life of Jimmy Savile