Faked kidnapping doc tops Passion slate

Secrets of the Transport Museum from Middlechild Productions

Tinopolis-owned UK sales house Passion Distribution has unveiled its spring slate, including three-part  true crime documentary The Disappearance of Shannon Matthews.

The 3×60’ doc, which originally aired on ViacomCBS-owned UK terrestrial Channel 5, focuses on the supposed kidnapping of nine-year-old Shannon in the UK town of Dewsbury in 2008.

It transpired that Shannon’s parents staged her disappearance to try to extract donations and reward money.

The three-parter is one of several true crime docs from ITN Productions on the Passion slate, revealed as part of this month’s London Screenings, including The Wests, The Killing of James Bulger and The Railway Murders (all 3×60’).

Elsewhere on the slate, Murder in a Small Town (2×60’) re-examines the case against Luke Mitchell, who was convicted of murdering 14-year-old schoolgirl Jodi Jones in a quiet Scottish town. It was produced by Firecracker Films for Channel 5.

Lap of Luxury: Ultimate Escapes Down Under looks at luxury homes in Australasia

Lifestyle series Lap of Luxury: Ultimate Escapes Down Under (10×30’) reveals the luxury lodges of New Zealand and Australia and was produced by Screentime NZ for TVNZ.

Factual entertainment series Secrets of the Transport Museum (10×30’), produced by Middlechild Productions for UKTV, goes behind the scenes at the Brooklands Museum near London and follows the volunteers who work to preserve the racing cars, motorbikes and aeroplanes that have a permanent home there.

Big Ben: Rebirth of the World’s Most Famous Clock (1×60’) follows the restoration of the clock tower on London’s Houses of Parliament which began in 2017. ITN produced the one-off for Channel 4.

Finally, in formats, gameshow Master Minds (aka Best Trivia Show Ever) sees three challengers take on some of the greatest minds in trivia, including Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings. The show was originally commissioned by US cablenet Game Show Network.