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Madeleine McCann's Parents 'Appalled' By New BBC Mini-Drama

Madeleine McCann's Parents 'Appalled' By New BBC Mini-Drama

They're not happy.

James Dawson

James Dawson

It may have received critical acclaim, but the parents of Madeleine McCann have branded last night's BBC drama about the fake kidnap of Shannon Matthews "appalling" and "insensitive."

A friend of the family claims that the programme has upset Kate and Gerry McCann as they approach the 10th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance.

They criticised BBC mini series The Moorside, which made numerous references to their daughter, as being in "poor taste and bad timing", according to the Mirror.

The show is based on the kidnapping of nine-year-old Shannon who "vanished" from The Moorside council estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February 2008.

It was later discovered that the schoolgirl's own mum Karen had collaborated with her boyfriend's uncle to make it all up.

Watch what went on in the show here...

Credit: BBC

Inspired by the police hunt for McCann nine months previous, Shannon's mother schemed with Michael Donovan, to cash-in by faking the kidnapping, so they could claim the reward along with any media interview fees offered to them.

Karen Matthews was eventually arrested, charged and jailed for eight years as an accomplice in her daughter's drugging and kidnapping.

Shannon's "disappearance" after failing to return home from a school swimming trip bore similarities to that of three-year-old Maddie, who was snatched from her bed in a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007.

The McCann kidnapping was alluded to at least three times in the opening episode of the mini-series.

In one scene search co-ordinator Julie Bushby, played by Sheridan Smith, discussed a candelit vigil after the mum's TV appeal.

Karen Matthews pictured in 2008. Credit: PA Images

In the show, a friend, viewing the papers the next day, said: "It must be working all this, they are offering a reward of £20,000."

Julie's young son said: "They are offering two and a half million pounds for Maddie McCann. Is that because they're posher than us?"

His mum replies: "It's not a contest."

In another clip while discussing their media plea with a detective, Karen tells her: "I've got my cuddly bear that you wanted, like Maddie's mum wants her Cuddle Cat."

The police officer asks: "Is that Shannon's favourite" and her mum answers: "Probably!"

Karen Matthews with the bear. Credit: PA Images

Karen's appearance before cameras clutching the toy was a near carbon copy to Kate McCann's plea for her daughter.

During the show's appeal Karen shed crocodile tears as she echoed some of Kate's words, begging: "I need her home. If anyone's got my beautiful princess, bring her home."

A source close to Kate and Gerry said: "The whole Shannon Matthews saga only came about because of Madeleine's disappearance and what the family wrongly thought they could claw through rewards and interviews.

"The BBC have been trailing it for a few weeks. Kate and Gerry think the whole thing is appalling, and in really poor taste and bad timing.

"They may not sit down and watch every minute of these programmes but they are aware of them and references to their family.

"They feel is very insensitive and the show tries to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl."

Kate and Gerry McCann pictured together. Credit: PA Images

Last month Madeleine McCann's parents lost a court appeal to silence a former police officer who claims they covered up their daughter's death.

Portuguese Supreme Court judges met in Lisbon this morning to resolve the couple's battle against a decision last April to reverse their 2015 libel win against Goncalo Amaral.

The hearing took place in private and an official public decision will not be made until later in the week.

Gerry and Kate McCann could now face a huge legal bill, which had been frozen until the outcome of the final appeal.

The couple have been engaged in an eight-year fight over a book written by Amaral, who led the initial hunt when then-three-year-old Madeleine vanished from their Algarve holiday apartment in May 2007.

Credit: PA Images

In 2015, a Lisbon court ordered Goncalo Amaral to pay Kate and Gerry €500,000 (£429,000) in compensation for the claims made in the book. However, last year, an appeals court overturned that conviction before reaching Portugal's top court.

The McCanns' Portuguese lawyer, Isabel Duarte, lodged the couple's new appeal last May after vowing to fight the U-turn by judges over Amaral's book.

Criticising the ruling in favour of the ex-police chief, Duarte said the ruling had left the couple 'seething'. She said: "This decision was an appreciation of the law and not the facts.

"We can appeal to the Supreme Court which we will do as we have instructions from our clients."

The book was published in 2008, three days after Portuguese police formally closed their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, clearing the McCanns of any wrongdoing.

Gerry and Kate McCann pictured in 2014. Credit: PA Images

Amaral is understood to have earned £344,000 from his book and a subsequent TV documentary before it was banned.

He claimed in the book Maddie had died in their holiday flat and they had faked her abduction to cover up the tragedy.

Mr Amaral argued in his defence that the claims stemmed from the police investigation and that Portuguese media had already reported the possibility the parents may have played a role in Madeleine's disappearance.

More than £50,000 was raised in support for the detective, donated via a Go Fund Me page, after he was ordered to pay damages.

Police brought an end to all forensic investigations involved in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in August last year, nine years after she went missing while on a family holiday in Portugal.

Police prepare to dig for Madeleine McCann in Algarve resort town back in 2014. Credit: Ruptly

The investigation, named Operation Grange, was set up by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011, costing £12 million, but has reportedly not helped the police move the investigation forward.

"The final forensics were carried out about three months ago but, sadly, they didn't take us forward," a source told the Mirror. "There are no plans for any further forensic work to take place."

Credit: PA

Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007, aged three, after her parents left her and her twin siblings alone in an apartment in Praia da Luz, a resort in the Algarve.

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have spent nine years trying to locate their daughter, but all their attempts have been in vain.

"Until we have answers, until there is news, there will always be hope and we will do everything we can to help find Madeleine," the couple said.

Operation Grange was reportedly shelved due to the growing amount of money being paid by taxpayers towards it and because other areas of the police force facing budget cuts.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: BBC, Madeleine McCann