THE MURDER OF JILL DANDO
BROADCASTER: BBC ONE, 2018
CREDIT: Filmed and Directed by
PRODUCTION COMPANY: BBC Studios
SYNOPSIS
It was a crime that reverberated across the country, from the millions of television viewers used to seeing Jill in their living rooms, all the way up to the heart of government - even Her Majesty the Queen commented on Jill’s death.
On the 20th anniversary of her murder this landmark documentary tells the full story behind one of Britain’s most high-profile unsolved killings, as told by the people at the heart of the case.
With access to never-before-seen material from inside one of the largest and most complex murder inquiries ever conducted by the Metropolitan Police, viewers will discover how events played out in real time.
“Plowright’s documentary brought back all those feelings with a level of restraint.” ★★★★
— James Jackson, The Times
“This sensitively produced documentary … the producer and director of the film have made a fitting and balanced tribute to Jill, something she deserves”
★★★★
— Sean O'Grady, The Independent
“The strength of the film was in director Marcus Plowright’s sensitive interviews with friends, colleagues and family, as well as with the oft-criticised and clearly still rankled detectives.”
★★★★
— Chris Harvey, Daily Telegraph
GALLERY
“The Murder of Jill Dando took us – quietly, carefully and unsensationally – through what remains an extraordinary, and unsolved, case. The programme wisely decided to keep out of the way and gave us an hour that was all the more moving for its spareness.”
— Lucy Mangan, The Guardian
By gathering together the perspectives of detectives, Jill’s colleagues, friends and close family, plus previously unseen archive and photographs, this film goes behind the headlines and speculation to offer unique insights into Jill’s life and the hunt for her murderer.
Did Jill’s celebrity status hinder the chances of her murder being solved? Did the heavy weight of scrutiny hamper detectives as they worked frantically to deliver answers? This film explores the forensics, theories and decision-making behind one of Britain’s most notorious cases, and 20 years on asks whether it will ever be solved.
David Brindley, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment, says: "Jill was one of the BBC’s most talented and well-loved presenters. Her death sent shockwaves through the country and sparked one of the biggest investigations the Metropolitan Police had ever launched. Twenty years on, with the crime still unsolved, this film will reveal in detail the process of that investigation from those who were closest to it."
The Murder Of Jill Dando (w/t), a 1x60 for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios. The Executive Producer is Joe Mather and the director is Marcus Plowright. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, TV Content, and David Brindley, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment.
FULL FILM
