BBC's new drama The Reckoning explores the heinous crimes of Jimmy Savile. It traces the life of Savile, who after his death became one of the most reviled figures in modern history following revelations of extensive abuse. It also explores how Savile used his celebrity and powerful connections to conceal his crimes and exploit institutional failings.
Just 10 minutes into the first episode of the series last night, viewers were also introduced to former Signal Radio DJ Ray Teret, who was described as Savile's 'shadow'. He would drive girls to Savile's lair where they abused them together. Teret was later convicted of horrific sex offences against multiple victims before his death in prison in 2021.
Here StokeonTrentLive takes a look at the life and crimes of Teret and his connections to Savile. Read on below for everything you need to know.
Who was Ray Teret?
Ray Teret was renowned as a DJ from the mid-1960s. He initially worked at Radio Caroline North but left in 1966 before gaining a job at Signal Radio in Stoke-on-Trent.
During his time in the Potteries, he would make appearances at former Hanley nightclub The Place. While working in radio, he gained nicknames like The Rat and Ugly Ray.
At one point he spoke to The Sentinel about his plans to transform the empty Monica Wholesale Hosiery warehouse in Cobridge into an Affleck's Palace-type market, with independent stalls selling clothes, records, jewellery and art. He later pulled out of the plans after a cannabis factory was found inside.
At the start of his career he was mentored by Savile throughout the 1960s and was said to follow him around 'like a shadow' and was employed as his chauffeur.
He used the evil Top of the Pops star's celebrity status to prey on a host of young girls in the club scene in the 1960s and 1970s.
What crimes did Ray Teret commit?
Teret was first arrested in 2012 after the Savile scandal finally emerged. Two years later, Teret was found guilty of seven charges of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault on girls as young as 13 years old.
Speaking after Teret's conviction, Det Sgt Carol Barlow, of Greater Manchester Police, described him as 'a devious, manipulative sexual predator'. She said: ''He abused his celebrity status in the worst way imaginable. The girls he preyed upon were naive and inexperienced and in awe of who he was.''
He was jailed for 25 years in December 2014. The prisoner was held at HMP Manchester, also known as Strangeways. Judge Mr Justice Baker told him: "It is clear you exploited your celebrity status to sexually abuse young girls. Those who were raped had little or no understanding what was happening and felt they could do little to prevent the abuse."
Savile died aged 84 in 2011 and was never prosecuted for any of his crimes.
How did Ray Teret die?
Prior to his death, evil Teret tested positive for coronavirus while behind bars in 2020. At the time, a source said: "Teret's now 78 - firmly in the danger group for coronavirus. He is benefiting now from some of the very best care, although it's doubtful too many will be sending their best wishes to him."
Teret then died in 2021 at the age of 79 following a battle with cancer. He had served just over six years of his sentence. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "HMP Manchester prisoner Ray Teret died in prison on May 5. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”
Who plays Ray Teret in The Reckoning?
Robert Emms, known for his roles in Chernobyl and Atlantis, plays the part of Teret. Savile is played by Steve Coogan in the new series, which has Jeff Pope as its executive producer and Neil McKay as its writer.
The pair have previously worked together on true crime dramas such as See No Evil: The Moors Murders and Appropriate Adult.
"I think we wanted to make this series because, like the other pieces we’ve done over our time working together, it’s an enormous and important story. This man was abusing and assaulting hundreds of people, essentially in front of our eyes," Pope said in an interview with the BBC.
"That leads to some very simple questions which we wanted to explore in this series: why and how did he get away with it? And how can we make sure it doesn’t happen again?," he added.
Where to watch The Reckoning
The Reckoning aired its first episode on BBC One on Monday, October 9 with all episodes available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The show has come in for criticism from some quarters, but has been defended by Coogan.
"It is controversial and I understand that,’ he told Radio Times. "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."
