David Farnor | On 28, Jan 2019

Air date confirmed:
The Murder Of Jill Dando will air on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 2nd April 2019.

With the world discussing Ted Bundy thanks to a new Netflix series about him this week, BBC One is joining the true crime trend with a new documentary looking at one of the most well-known killings in recent history: The Murder Of Jill Dando.

In April 1999, the celebrated and loved television presenter, known for her work on the 6 o’clock news, Crimewatch and Holiday, was shot and killed on the doorstep of her home in the middle of the day. 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, BBC One has commissioned a landmark documentary to tell the full story behind one of Britain’s most high-profile unsolved killings, in the words of 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.

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 one-hour documentary 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.

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