BBC presenter slammed by fans for 'insensitive' Jimmy Savile joke following The Reckoning release

A BBC presenter has been slammed by fans for her ‘insensitive’ Jimmy Savile joke.

This came as the new drama The Reckoning was released on Monday (9 October).

You can watch the trailer for the BBC series here:

The four-part series traces the ‘life of Jimmy Savile, a man who, for decades, became one of the UK’s most influential celebrities, but in death has become one of the most reviled figures of modern history following revelations of extensive and horrific abuse’.

There has been much controversy over the dramatisation of the disgraced presenter and his crimes as some viewers say it’s ‘too soon’.

But others have called it ‘uncomfortable but necessary’ and praised Steve Coogan for his performance as Savile.

Ahead of the series being released earlier this week, Victoria Coren Mitchell made reference to it on X (formerly Twitter) as she plugged her own TV appearances.

BBC

The 51-year-old is a well-known face on BBC channels, as the host of quiz show Only Connect and appearing on various comedy programmes.

The professional poker player wrote: “Ooh, I see that new Jimmy Savile/Steve Coogan biopic is on tonight.

“If you can cope with watching a presenter who makes your flesh creep, I might also suggest Only Connect at 8pm on BBC Two and Have I Got A Bit More News For You at 10.40pm on BBC One.”

But fans weren’t too happy with her ‘joke’ as the tweet gathers over 500,000 views.

One simply asked: “What were you thinking when you wrote this?”

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Women of the Year

Another added: “Victoria I watch you every week, I think you are a great presenter but for the sake of Savilles victims I find this post a little off… Oh and I admire Coogans bravery on taking on the role. The story has to be told for the survivors.”

Others echoed: “That isn’t even remotely funny. Poor choice of words. Not funny at all.”

Another put: “Glad to read that you're looking forward to it, Victoria. You obviously find the topic amusing. Doubt his victims will feel that way.”

Although others did extend it with their own joke: “Thanks for the heads up - I have been struggling to find a presenter who makes my flesh creep after GB News lost some of theirs.”

And despite people urging her to ‘rethink’ and ‘delete’ the tweet, one even wrote: “You bring joy to my heart Victoria. You always make me laugh.”

A spokesperson for Victoria said: "That tweet is a self-deprecating joke, of the kind Victoria has been making about Only Connect for many years.

"It’s had more than 500,000 interactions, and less than 20 complaints. Also, if you look at most of those, they are people with almost no followers, so fake accounts.

"It’s been a strange and nasty week on Twitter generally, reflecting a very angry world right now. Victoria is very much not a controversialist. I think the remaining 499,975+ people who saw her 'creepy presenter' tweet understand that the joke is at Victoria’s own expense and most certainly not the victims of that evil man and his terrible crimes."