Viewers divided over decision to blur dead bodies while looking for Spencer Matthews' brother

Viewers of the Finding Michael documentary, which charts the efforts from Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews to find the body of his brother on Mount Everest, have been left divided over the programme's decision to blur footage of dead bodies.

Michael became the youngest Brit to reach the peak of Everest in 1999, but three hours after making it to the top the 22-year-old disappeared and was declared dead after being caught in a storm.

Spencer has spent two years making a documentary about searching for his brother's body among the dead of Everest, with many of those who die climbing the mountain not able to be recovered.

The climb to the top of Everest is strewn with the bodies of those who did not survive, with a majority of the bodies of the more than 300 climbers who died on the mountain still up there.

It can cost between $40,000 (£33,000) and $80,000 (£66,000) to recover a body from Everest, and there is no guarantee of success either.

Disney+

Spencer's Disney+ documentary, titled Finding Michael, had been set to launch on the streaming service on 3 March, but at the last minute it was pulled and the release scrapped, with it later being released a few days later on 7 March.

On social media Disney apologised for the delay, thanking fans hopeful of it being released sooner rather than later for their patience.

The Daily Mirror reported that the reason for the delay was because the documentary shows the bodies of other climbers who have died on Mount Everest, and was re-edited to cut or blur the scenes with dead bodies.

They also reported that the reason for the delay was because with just a few hours to go following 'endless viewings' and 'two official screenings' that footage of the dead bodies 'might be deemed insensitive'.

Spencer was said to be 'absolutely furious' about the sudden delay, and viewers of the documentary have been discussing the decision to blur and obscure footage of other dead bodies on the programme.

Disney+

One viewer said he was 'perplexed' at the decision to make 'a documentary about recovering a dead man's body' blur out a series of dead bodies, saying Finding Michael started with a disclaimer about what was going to be in the show.

Someone else said the documentary should 'warn the audience and let them decide what is appropriate to see', giving the viewer the power to watch a blurred and unblurred version.

However, others thought delaying the documentary to blur it out had been the right decision, as one person said it was 'about finding Michael not seeing dead bodies' and another suggested they were 'likely blurred out of respect for the victims'.

More agreed that 'respect to the families of those dead climbers' was a good reason to delay Finding Michael by a few days.

Finding Michael is available to stream on Disney+ now.

LADbible has contacted Disney for comment.