True North’s Panorama Special following the investigation into the kidnap of Shannon Matthews achieved record ratings for the strand.
Shannon:The Mother of All Lies
was broadcast within hours of a jury at Leeds Crown Court finding Shannon’s mother Karen Matthews and family friend Michael Donovan guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Despite last-minute scheduling, 5.6 million people (23.5% of all viewers) watched the film, making it the most popular Panorama since the strand moved into its BBC One peak time slot, and far exceeding Panorama’s average audience of 3 million.
Nine-year-old Shannon went missing from her Dewsbury home in February 2008. True North had exclusive access to West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), as they followed the trail of evidence that led to her mother, Karen Matthews.
The film was transmitted within hours of the verdict and set the agenda for news coverage in the days that followed. Kirklees Council have since launched an independent enquiry into how the case was handled.
Shannon: The Mother of all Lies was produced and directed by Sarah Hey, filmed and edited by Mark Stokes, and executive produced by True North Creative Director Andrew Sheldon. It was commissioned by Panorama editor Sandy Smith.
Andrew Sheldon said: “This is the story that gripped the nation. We are delighted to have been able to deliver the inside track on what really happened to Shannon. The film’s impact – both in terms of viewers and headlines – is testament to the tenacity and hard work the team have put in over the past ten months. ”