Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid spoke to the director of the new Madeleine McCann factual drama, Under Suspicion: Kate McCann
Susanna Reid has opened up about how the disappearance of Madeleine McCann left a lasting impact on her. The Good Morning Britain presenter was co-hosting the ITV programme alongside Ed Balls on Tuesday, May 19, when the pair spoke to the lead actress and director behind the new Kate McCann factual drama.
Actress Laura Bayston portrays Madeleine's mother in Channel 5's Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, which examines the high-profile case in which three year old Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal, in May 2007. Kate and husband Gerry McCann, who were cleared of any wrongdoing in 2008, found themselves wrongly implicated in a cover-up. Kate became trapped between co-operating with authorities and protecting herself as she endured lengthy interrogation sessions with detectives.
Speaking to director Paula Wittig, mother-of-three Susanna admitted the case had deeply affected her as a mum to young boys at the time, reports the Mirror. Quizzing Paula on her motivations behind the drama, Susanna said: "This is such a high-profile case, I think it's one we all remember about how it effected you personally when you found out.
"I remember I didn't sleep for two weeks after Madeleine McCann went missing because one of my children was exactly the same age as Madeleine. I mean it was just devastating. So what do you want to convey through this drama?
" Paula replied: "We weren't intending to retell the whole story or reinterrogate the whole case. We were very much focused on this particular point in time and when I read the source material and when I looked through everything I felt that it had been hugely misrepresented and misunderstood and I saw an opportunity to really tell the truth about what happened also to look at it through a very human emotional lens.
" The factual drama commences three months into the investigation to locate Madeleine. Portuguese authorities have no significant leads, no concrete evidence, and no arrests have been secured. As global attention escalates, they call Madeleine's mother, Kate, for a meeting.
In contrast to earlier cordial encounters, this session adopts an accusatory approach from the outset. When Kate questions police about why she is receiving this treatment, she is informed they don't believe her. The drama examines official statements and documented testimony. The film portrays Kate McCann's interrogation, as Portuguese detectives face increasing pressure to produce results.
Public backing has shifted to suspicion as the world's media report on forensic evidence, leaked by the police, seemingly implicating the McCanns. Kate now finds herself treated as an official witness. Following eleven hours of questioning, Kate is informed that the following day she will be designated "arguida" - a formal suspect. The police then intensified pressure for a confession, warning that without one she could face charges for her daughter's murder.
This bombshell not only puts Kate's liberty at risk, but also dashes any remaining hope of locating Madeleine. With detectives convinced of Kate's guilt, she dreads that the search for the true perpetrator will be abandoned. During her final interrogation, Kate rebuffs every allegation by responding "no comment" on the advice of her solicitor.
The drama unfolds as she walks free from the police station, bringing viewers back to the heart of the story — a mother desperately searching for her missing child. Good Morning Britain is on ITV1 weekdays at 6am and ITVX. Under Suspicion: Kate McCann will air on Channel 5 on Wednesday May 20 at 9pm
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