Parents' Guide to

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Disturbing docu describes sexual abuse, celebrity worship.

TV Netflix Reality TV 2022
Jimmy Savile show poster.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

Cathycritter1
Cathycritter1 Adult
October 4, 2022
age 18+

Pointless documentary about a vile man

Not only is this not appropriate for teenagers or children of any age, it is not worth seeing whatsoever, by anyone. The big mystery here is why this strange, bizarre, egotistical, and self-aggrandizing man was ever so revered in the UK at all. I can see nothing remotely appealing about him, even before abuse allegations cane out. Most of the series concentrates on what a great guy all thought he was, how popular, how charitable all his endeavors. We barely hear about him finally getting outed for all his horrendous crimes, until way at the end of part 2. There is no reason to watch this documentary unless you want to get up close and personal with a disgusting person. 90% of this documentary is revolting footage of this man prancing around, mugging for the camera eyes bugged out, being flippant with interviewers and basically getting away with anything he wanted to do, and anything he felt like saying. Stay away from this pointless show.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

JIMMY SAVILE: A BRITISH HORROR STORY is a two-part t.v. documentary about the public and secret life of famed British DJ and celebrity Jimmy Savile. The eccentric Savile was best known for hosting popular TV shows like Top of the Pops (1964-2006) and Jim'll Fix It (1975-1994), both of which were geared towards children and young adults. The flamboyant entertainer was also knighted for his charitable work aimed at helping minors and vulnerable populations. But after his death in 2011, a criminal investigation known as Operation Yewtree confirmed that Savile had sexually abused over 450 children and adults over a 50 year period. Interviews with former colleagues, journalists, and others, combined with archive footage of Savile throughout his career, offer disturbing details about his crimes, and underscore how celebrity worship, social attitudes, and a flawed legal system enabled Savile's alleged predatory behavior for so long.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This disturbing docuseries offers a detailed account of why a man once considered a British national treasure is now regarded as one of Great Britain's most prolific sex offenders. It chronicles Jimmy Savile's entertainment career and seemingly non-stop volunteer work, all of which allegedly allowed him to easily access, groom, and exploit his victims. It also reveals how powerful people, ranging from entertainment industry and charitable leaders, to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and members of the British royal family, were manipulated into ignoring the persistent rumors and behaviors that pointed to his sexual predatory behavior. But Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story relies too heavily on conversations with journalists, many of whom spend time analyzing their interactions with the eccentric entertainer to evidence how he was able to hide in plain sight. It also spends too much time focusing on Savile, and offers limited conversations about those who protected him. Nonetheless, it's a frightening wake up call to societies that idolize and readily give power to celebrities to let them do whatever they want.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the differences between celebrities' public and private lives. Looking back, how different was Savile's public persona from his secret one? How are people who once looked up to him as a positive public figure and role model supposed to make sense of the terrible things he allegedly did?

  • What messages does Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story send about the ease at which major celebrities can get away with harming others? Who or what is to blame for this?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate