Political Commentator Piers Pottinger has hit out at the BBC over their latest four-part drama The Reckoning, based on the life of Jimmy Savile.
The series, starring Steve Coogan as the disgraced former BBC presenter, follows Savile in his early career and the committing of child sex offences, bookended by real testimony from his victims.
In a discussion with Bev Turner on Britain's Newsroom, Pottinger first criticised the BBC in their latest coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, as the broadcaster avoided calling Hamas a terrorist organisation.
Bev asked: “Can I just ask you about the fact that the BBC still don't describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation? Why?"
Piers Pottinger claimed the BBC has 'lost the plot'
GB News
Pottinger replied: “Well, that's ridiculous. I mean, they did the similar thing with the IRA at one point when they were killing our civilians and soldiers.
"But no, of course it's preposterous.
Pottinger continued: "The BBC's own ridiculous agenda is absolutely outrageous.
"I mean, tonight they're doing an absurd four-hour documentary on Jimmy Savile, who they celebrated, nurtured, employed and they admit they call it a factual drama, even though it's got huge fictitious moments in it, like Jimmy Savile confessing to a priest about his horrible crimes, which he never did and they admit is fictitious.
"Why are license payers paying the BBC? How much did Steve Coogan get paid for four hours of this so-called drama?
"And who wants to see four hours about probably one of the most horrible celebrity perverts in British history?
Bev agreed as Pottinger said: "I mean it's nonsense. The BBC have lost the plot, we know that, and that's why more and more people are watching the people's channel.”
Steve Coogan has defended the creation of BBC's The Reckoning
BBC
Star of the show, Steve Coogan, has defended the making of the series by the broadcaster, as he told the Radio Times: "It is controversial and I understand that. The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, and I believe the correct choice is to be damned if they do.
"Broadly, it’s better to talk about something than not. The team had the right attitude and it was done with the cooperation of survivors.
"I think when it’s broadcast, it will vindicate itself."
The first episode of The Reckoning will air on October 9 on BBC One, with all episodes being released on iPlayer.