An Audience With Jimmy Savile: The Play That Should Never Have Been Made?

A controversial play about paedophile Jimmy Savile is set to open tonight under a storm of fierce criticism.

An Audience With Jimmy Savile, starring impressionist Alistair McGowan in the titular role, has been blasted on social media as “sick”.

Writer and former BBC journalist, Jonathan Maitland, has defended the play – the story of the late TV presenter's public and private life – after receiving a torrent of abuse on Twitter.

Speaking on This Morning, he insisted that the story of Savile should not be “swept under the carpet”.

"It's an incredibly important story," he said. "It’s one of the most important stories of the last 30 years.

"I really understand the urge to sweep him under the carpet but the trouble is that is what contributed to him and others like him getting away with it because the BBC and the NHS, when people were hinting at stuff… people put their fingers in their ears.

"I've spoken to about half a dozen victims of Savile. I've spoken to a lot more victims of sexual abuse (carried out by others).

"The victims are incredibly supportive. Everyone's presuming to speak for them, saying it's exploitative and they haven't seen it yet.

“The victims are saying… 'we want to be heard’."

Some on Twitter have hit out at the play, with one arguing that it was too much of an “uncomfortable subject” for him to go and see it.

Maitland said the play was not meant to be entertainment and was not written to make money.

He added: "In theatre you do not make money. If this makes a profit, and I really hope it does, a large chunk of it will go to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) charity.

“Believe me, we're not in it for the money and we're not profiting.”

Star McGowan recently admitted he did not just have second thoughts about playing Savile but "third, fourth, fifth and sixth thoughts" too.

Set in 1991, the play, opening at the Park Theatre, in north London, draws on transcripts of interviews, witness statements and official reports, and centres on a This Is Your Life-style show.