Ben Frow, the chief content officer at Channel 5, has stated that he would not have greenlit a television drama centered on Sarah Everard for his network. The BBC is currently developing a drama written by Jeff Pope that will examine the investigation into Everard’s 2021 murder rather than depicting the crime itself. Despite acknowledging Pope’s talent and the story’s significance, Frow maintains that the project falls outside the boundaries of what he would commission.
Frow outlined his decision-making framework for greenlighting programming, which involves three key questions: whether he would personally view the content, if the project justifies its potential complications, and his underlying motivation for commissioning it. He emphasized that certain stories simply do not align with his editorial standards. The BBC’s selection of a male screenwriter for the drama has drawn criticism, given that Everard’s death became a pivotal moment for women’s safety discussions nationwide and sparked widespread protests.
However, Frow has previously greenlit dramas addressing sensitive topics, including projects about disgraced BBC newsreader Huw Edwards and missing child Madeleine McCann. He stressed that standards regarding contributor welfare and privacy have evolved significantly over the past decade. Frow explained that Channel 5 prioritizes involving stakeholders in storytelling and approaching controversial subjects responsibly, noting that some projects have been shelved when contributors raised concerns about their portrayal or the project’s execution.
Originally reported by Variety →
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