In light of the unmasking of Jimmy Savile as a predatory sex offender, and 15 years on from the BBC documentary When Louis Met Jimmy, Louis Theroux sets out to understand how a man who was at the centre of British entertainment and charitable fund-raising for decades was able to get away with a long litany of crimes.

In this reflective 75-minute film, Louis talks to some of Savile’s victims, to people who worked closely with him, and re-examines moments from the original film as well as footage that’s never aired before on television.

In 1999 and 2000, Louis spent about two weeks, spread out over a number of months, filming with the man then merely known as an eccentric and enigmatic television and radio personality with a passion for charity work and an obscure private life. In that original documentary Louis succeeded in showing a different side of Savile, asking him about the rumours of paedophilia, the question of his sexual interests, and stories about his run-ins with the police while running nightclubs in the 60s.

For several years after the show went out, Louis continued to be fascinated by Savile and they maintained a friendly relationship. But the darkest side of this deceptive man eluded him.

Now, to gain a deeper understanding of how Savile was able to use his celebrity status to commit his abuse for decades, Louis meets victims and several people that knew him but have not spoken out in a this way before. Louis attempts to build a clearer picture of how Savile was perceived, both then and now, by those with whom he came into contact, and learn how those that knew him either hold on to their memories or have the task of reappraising that part of their life.

With the power of hindsight, Louis examines his own conscience and raises some challenging questions, to consider how he himself, the press, institutions Savile worked with, and society as a whole can make sense of their failings and learn from the past.

EK