Chilling Jimmy Savile drama lined up by the makers of Shannon Matthews biopic
A CHILLING drama based on the horrific JIMMY SAVILE sex abuse scandal is being considered by the makers of the new Shannon Matthews biopic.
Bafta-winning writer NEIL McKAY has had early discussions about bringing the case to life after agreeing the story warrants being brought to the small screen.
He has called in executive producer JEFF POPE, co-creator of the BBC’s controversial new drama The Moorside, starring SHERIDAN SMITH as Julie Bushby, the troubled best friend of kidnap mum Karen Matthews.
Neil said: “Jeff and I think about a lot of these possibilities, but in a way, it’s how, what, why? Just because it’s a big story, should we be doing it?
“I always think, working on these things, if it doesn’t keep me awake at night should we be doing it?
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“There has got to be a reason, not just because it’s there. What are you going to say about it?
“But with Jimmy Savile, yes.”
Neil has kept further details under wraps, but it is believed the drama would focus on the true stories of some of the victims and how they coped with their ordeal at the hands of the twisted paedophile, who died in October 2011, aged 84.
Neil and Jeff are famed for shedding fresh light on true crimes by focusing on the ordinary people caught up in events, rather than the offences themselves.
As well as creating their controversial new two-parter about the hoax kidnap of Shannon Matthews — which starts next Tuesday on BBC1 — the pair worked together on the award-winning Appropriate Adult, starring DOMINIC WEST.
The drama looked at the story of serial killer Fred West from the viewpoint of trainee social worker Janet Leach.
Jeff has also written or produced dramas about Myra Hindley, The Yorkshire Ripper and Ronnie Biggs.
See No Evil: The Moors Murders won him a Bafta in 2007, Appropriate Adult bagged four more in 2011 and last year Mrs Biggs won one for Sheridan.
It will take a brave actor to take on the role of Savile.
Now it's big bro for OAP
Big Brother first aired nearly 20 years ago.
But now Channel 5 is launching a new Big Brother-style show which is expected to be the biggest social experiment to hit our screens since the original format.
The Great Divide will feature a dozen people living round-the-clock in a communal house – but this time the housemates will be PENSIONERS living with STUDENTS.
The series – to be broadcast over a week this summer – is loosely based on an experiment by a Dutch nursing home which offered rent-free housing to university pupils in a bid to enhance its elderly residents’ lives.
Six of the show’s housemates are over 60 and the other six are in their twenties.
Unlike Big Brother, the participants won’t be imprisoned but will be free to come and go from the house.
An insider said: “It looks like it could attract as much interest as the original Big Brother format did nearly 20 years ago.
“Channel 5 want it to be as authentic a flat share as possible which means the elderly residents could go out clubbing with their younger flatmates if they wanted.
“It’s set to be a bit like one of those big old family Christmas get-togethers where you’re all cooped up in the same house.
“There could be explosive rows as well as some surprising friendships.”
Sounds like it’s going to be an interesting watch.
Kelly's o-clay
I had to share this snap of my ITV colleague and Sun columnist LORRAINE KELLY recreating the pottery scene from Ghost with DR HILARY JONES.
Watching on in the Lorraine studio, I was in hysterics as they copied PATRICK SWAYZE and DEMI MOORE.
Dr Hilary really got into the tole - he should be signed up for the touring stage show.
Ross oldly goes
ROSS KEMP might command respect from Mexican drug lords but he can't manage the same when out shopping.
The hardman says he thinks he's too ugly to buy clothes from popular high street stores - and one shop worker even told him he was too old.
He said: "By the time I could afford to go into certain so-called posh shops, I was either too ugly or they thought I was gonna rob the shop"
"I get looked at as if to say 'Should you be in Millets? You shouldn't be in here, you know that right? You're too ugly'."
The EastEnders actor - famous for playing Grant Mitchell - now fronts his Sky1 series Extreme World.
But it's not terrorists he wants to put in Room 101.
On tonight's episode (BBC, 9pm) he tells host FRANK SKINNER of a trip to trendy US clothes store Hollister in San Francisco.
He said: "I had the top I was going to buy and the dollars in hand just trying to pay, and got told 'No man, you're too old."
They're brave.
DANNII MINOGUE back on stage in the UK is something her millions of fans have wanted to see for years.
And on tomorrow night’s Let it Shine, their dreams will come true.
The singer turns sassy army general to put the remaining contestants through their paces.
Strutting her stuff in a sexy uniform, KYLIE’s little sister demands the 40 wannabes sing, dance and work out in a bid to earn a spot in the Take That West-End show.
The lads strip off as she roars: “Do you have the stamina to be in this band?” before they perform GARY BARLOW and co’s hit Kidz and ED SHEERAN’s Sing.
The night sees them then team up with artists including OLLY MURS and MEL C for their group auditions on the BBC show.
It’s good to see them getting a chance to work with two of my faves.
SOAPBOX
TIME is running out for the secret affair of Peter and Toyah on CORONATION STREET.
In an effort to sort her sister’s love life out, Leanne invites “Fred” to the flat.
But when Peter turns up instead, she’s dangerously close to putting two and two together.
Meanwhile, Nick is trying to surprise Leanne with a proposal.
And Jenny risks upsetting her own factory boss fiancé as she launches a new range of mastectomy bras without telling him.
Over in EMMERDALE, car thief Moira is questioned by the police.
Plus, Charity risks her own brush with the law when she spots a rich man to scam.
There’s no rest for the wicked around the Dales.