BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay has faced backlash following his interview with one of Jimmy Savile's victims.

The star had been interviewing Leeds based Susan on BBC Breakfast when he came under fire from critics as they accused him of "victim-blaming".

Alongside co-star Sally Nugent, Jon was chatting to the guest ahead of the release of the highly controversial drama about Savile and his crimes for the BBC called The Reckoning.

She was appearing alongside the show's executive producer Neil McKay who discussed the new Steve Coogan fronted programme.

During the interview, Susan bravely opened up on how she wasn't taken seriously when she first discussed how she was a victim of the paedophile's hideous crimes in the 1970s.

Recalling that she is glad that she has spoken out on what happened to her, she told the programme that she had been met with "laughs" in the past.

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Susan said: "All the years that I had talked about it previously – people just laughed because they didn't take it seriously."

Viewers watching along at home felt that host Jon took a harsh approach as he simply responded back to the victim: "They laughed?"

Many felt it was inappropriate for the BBC star to ask Susan to justify why people had laughed at her as they accused him of "victim-blaming".

Writing on X – formerly Twitter – one said: "#BBCBreakfast Jon Kay victim blaming, BBC 101."

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Another added: "This woman is a victim of a BBC backed sexual predator… Kay not showing much empathy towards her."

As a third penned: "Did Jon just ask 'why she laughed'?" [sic]

A fourth viewer also insisted the interview segment felt "uncomfortable" as they said: "This just felt wrong on every level.

"The victim was obviously still traumatised by the past events, and yet she was inappropriately and repeatedly questioned, by the very institution that continually turned a blind eye, to allow his vile abuse. An uncomfortable watch!!"

The four-part series will trace the life of Savile, a man who, for decades, became one of the UK’s most influential celebrities, but in death has become one of the most reviled figures of modern history following revelations of extensive and horrific abuse.

Savile used his involvement in multiple organisations, such as the BBC, hospitals, prisons, and charities, to legitimise himself, forging friendships in showbusiness, politics, journalism, the Catholic Church and even the Royal Family to cement his position.

A synopsis of the drama reads: "The series will explore how Savile used his celebrity and powerful connections to conceal his crimes and exploit institutional failings.

"It is important to understand how he was able to hide in plain sight in order to gain a greater understanding of how he evaded justice.

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"The drama aims to highlight the importance of confronting the horrors of the past and talking openly about abuse."

The team have worked closely with many people whose lives were impacted by Savile to ensure their experiences are told and reflected with sensitivity and respect, and the drama will also draw on extensive, wide-ranging research and published accounts.

It will examine the impact his appalling crimes had on his victims, and the powerlessness many felt when they tried to raise the alarm. 

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