The parents of Madeleine McCann have expressed their disappointment at not being consulted or given consent for a new true crime drama that focuses on their daughter’s disappearance. Channel 5’s production, “Under Suspicion: Kate McCann,” portrays Madeleine’s mother as a suspect during the investigation in May 2007, a depiction the McCanns had no part in creating.

The drama, which aired recently, features Laura Bayston from Slow Horses in the lead role as Kate McCann. Kate and Gerry McCann released a statement on the same day, expressing their concerns about the negative impact such programs have on their family as they continue to cope with the loss of Madeleine, who went missing 19 years ago.

In their statement posted on the Find Madeleine Campaign website, the McCanns thanked supporters but also expressed disappointment over the lack of consultation regarding the Channel 5 docu-drama. They emphasized their non-involvement in the show’s production and questioned its potential benefits, highlighting the typically adverse effects such programs have on their family.

The statement, also shared on the official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page and signed by “Kate, Gerry & Family,” reiterated the family’s disapproval of the dramatization. Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal on May 3, 2007, just before her fourth birthday.

Portuguese authorities had previously considered Kate and Gerry as suspects in Madeleine’s disappearance for a period of 10 months. The new show dramatizes Kate’s interrogation during that time, drawing from official police materials, documentary evidence, and recorded testimonies.

The 90-minute film, written by award-winning screenwriter Philip Ralph and directed by Paula Wittig, delves into the events surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance. Channel 5 has been approached for comment on the matter.