Channel 5's new docudrama Under Suspicion: Kate McCann is designed to highlight the unjust police interrogations of Kate McCann in 2007, but critics argue it inadvertently gives air to conspiracy theories. The programme, airing 19 years after Madeleine McCann's disappearance, focuses on the 98 days after she vanished when Portuguese police declared Kate and Gerry McCann official suspects. This 'arguido' status was later lifted, and police apologised in 2013.
A Dangerous Approach
The drama, starring Laura Bayston as Kate McCann, recreates two intense police interrogations. However, it only briefly addresses in a postscript that much of the evidence against the McCanns was bogus or inconclusive. This leaves viewers watching an hour of a panicked mother being accused by convincing police officers, potentially reinforcing false beliefs.
Conspiracy Theorists' Delight
Armchair detectives and those who follow online conspiracy threads may find the drama validating. The McCanns have faced relentless scrutiny since 2007, with every action dissected—whether they cried enough, were too public-facing, or visited priests. The drama risks reigniting baseless allegations.
The McCanns were not involved in the production and declined to comment. The ultimate horror of the case is its endless nature, with no resolution. The Metropolitan Police still seeks to bring German suspect Christian Brückner to trial. In this context, the drama seems pointless and potentially harmful, offering no new insights and possibly fueling further conspiracy theories.
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann airs on Channel 5 tonight at 9pm.
