Jill Dando's fiancé and co-host boycott documentary with poignant explanation
Murdered Jill Dando’s fiancé and her Crimewatch co-host Nick Ross turned down Netflix requests to appear in its docu-series on her death, fearing it would be spun as a ratings-boosting whodunnit.
Who Killed Jill Dando? brought the 1999 shooting of the TV favourite back into the spotlight when it was released amid much fanfare this week. But Nick, 76, today says he refused to take part in the series along with her fiancé Alan Farthing, 60, and “a substantial number of people close to her”. Nick, who set up a world-class crime institute in Jill’s name, said: “It was sold to me as a tribute to Jill. But it was quite clear that what they wanted was a really good story arc.
“It was always going to be spun out into a classic TV whodunnit giving voice to every conspiracy theory without signposting clear evidence that was out there. Speculation was to get the same weight as fact.
Jill with her fiancé Alan Farthing (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)
Nick Ross snubbed Netflix (Getty Images)“Then I learned they were going to interview Barry George – so I decided not to take part, as did Alan.” George, now 58, was cleared of killing Jill on the doorstep of her Fulham home after a retrial.
Nick added: “It wasn’t just myself and Alan who said no to Netflix. There are a substantial number of people close to Jill who haven’t taken part, all for the same reason. There is nothing wrong with entertainment, but you are talking about real pain and grief without brave journalism which would really explain things to your viewers.
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Nick Ross after Jill's killing (Press Association)“I didn’t want to be involved and though I’ve had detailed reports on it I haven’t watched it.” After Jill’s murder, Nick asked Alan’s permission to set up a charity fund in her name. Together they raised £1.5million to create the Institute of Security and Crime Science at University College London in 2001.
Barry George was wrongfully imprisoned for eight years (Courtesy of Netflix)Nick explained: “After Jill’s death, I asked the Metropolitan Police Commissioner if there was a way I could create a legacy for her. I had previously spoken to him about creating Crime Science – a discipline that specifically studies crime in order to work out how to prevent it.
“Today, the institute is an astonishing success. It’s world-class in all the international ratings. The Institute looks at crime waves yet to come, to work out how we can avert them.”
The crime scene in Fulham, south-west London (Press Association)Nick also supports the Jill Dando News Centre, set up by teachers in her home town Weston-super-Mare to honour her memory. He said: “The News Centre invites students to really get interested in journalism. Now it has schools all over the country. It’s a lovely part of Jill’s legacy.” Netflix were today contacted for comment.
A donation has been made to the Jill Dando News Centre for this interview
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