A victim of the notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile has spoken of feeling "quite unwell" after watching the new London play An Audience with Jimmy Savile in which Alistair McGowan plays the predatory presenter.

Alistair McGowanAlistair McGowan plays the predatory presenter Jimmy Savile

The controversial play provoked a mixed response though McGowan's performance was described as "uncanny" and former victim of Savile Karin Ward described the play as "absolutely fantastic."

Ms Ward, who was one of several victims who were consulted by playwright Jonathan Maitland, told Sky News: "With the smell of the cigar smoke, it was almost like stepping back 40 years."

"It was uncanny. It was impeccable, absolutely fantastic, [McGowan] was so convincing."

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One key scene in the play is almost a verbatim police interview during which is became obvious how Savile manipulated his inquisitors.

"When we performed that scene at a public read-through of the play five months ago, the reaction was extraordinary," Maitland wrote in The Independent last month.

"Afterwards, the audience said that was the moment when they realised how Savile got away with it."

"Dark, shocking and totally compelling - a riveting insight into how Savile got away with it," said Elizabeth Day in her review of the show for The Observer.

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Police continue to investigate sex abuse allegations against the former Top of the Pops personality - some linked to Operation Yewtree, which has already secured the convictions of Max Clifford, Rolf Harris and Chris Denning.

An Audience with Jimmy Savile runs at London's Park Theatre until July 11, 2015.