Louis Theroux had the chance to bring Jimmy Savile down 16 years ago. He blew it, and he knows it.
Jimmy Savile left a legacy of tortured victims in his wake, and he eluded all justice while he was alive – despite giving access to one of the world’s most heralded documentarians.
Theroux’s original documentary about the BBC broadcaster When Louis Met Jimmy was replete with clues that there was something not quite right about Savile, but very few people suspected the monstrous depth of the man’s many crimes.
Last night, Theroux aired a second documentary about Savile – a much more introspective piece than his usual fare, with his own skill as an investigator under the spotlight as much as anything else.
Theroux spoke to many of Savile’s victims and studied old footage he had compiled for the original documentary in order to prove what we all know to be true: that hindsight is 20/20.
Commentators on social media were frequently disturbed by Theroux’s findings:
#Savile really showed how people will not see what they don't want to believe. So, nothing we didn't already know.
— Mike Lloyd 🦆 (@DrMikeLloyd) October 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/scotsHR/status/782836606893957120
Am I the only one who always thought jimmy #Savile was vile? And that @louistheroux was trying to uncover this 1st time round but failed?
— Lullabelle (@lullabelle30) October 3, 2016
Louis Theroux documentary about Jimmy Savile is so shocking #Savile #JimmySavile #louistheroux
— Ricky (@ricky_roberts_) October 3, 2016
#Savile I thought Louis did an excellent job though, both this time and In 2000 despite his misgivings!
He knew something was wrong— JKP (@jkpirie) October 3, 2016
The documentary on #Savile was horrific to watch bUt as normal Theroux did an excellent job. As for Savile well let's hope he's burning
— Richard Armstrong (@habbyhatter) October 3, 2016
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
