MOHAMED Fayed and his crimes will be examined in a new TV documentary.
It will come from the same team who brought us bombshell drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office last year.
A shock new Mohamed Al-Fayed documentary is set to blow open the Harrods boss’ sex crimes[/caption]
The former Harrods owner has been accused of sexual assaults against dozens of women who had the misfortune of coming within his orbit.
Many of them happened after the late businessman bought the world- famous London department store in 1985, and used his power and influence to take advantage.
Now all the claims will be brought together and studied in a new show due to air on Channel 5 from top production company Little Gem.
A TV insider said: “Having a documentary made by this calibre of creative teams adds some heft to the project and is guaranteed to really scrutinise Fayed’s dark history.
“Little Gem didn’t just dramatise the story of the Horizon software scandal that saw hundreds of Post Office staff treated abominably by their bosses, they also made a factual show.
“This opens up the prospect of them potentially turning the story of Fayed into a drama too, one which would no doubt be snapped up by Channel 5 as well.”
Channel 5 is increasingly moving into the arena of serious factual shows as well as heavyweight dramas, so this unsettling story is ideal subject matter.
The documentary will offer a history of Harrods, ending with an analysis of Fayed’s behaviour, which only fully came to light after he died in 2023 aged 94.
Little Gem is renowned for working in this field, and not just because of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which moved the nation when it aired last winter on ITV.
It has also made shows with Emily Atack about the dangers facing young women today, and former Arsenal and England footballer Paul Merson on his gambling addiction.
ROM: WHY I QUIT MY TRAVELS
ROMESH RANGANATHAN quit his Misadventures travelogue series partly for the sake of his marriage.
The comedian had a few hair-raising moments making the BBC documentaries around the globe, including in Haiti, Madagascar and Colombia.
But his biggest fear was the impact of being out of touch with his wife.
Romesh said on the Chrissy Chaos US podcast: “She could think I could be dead, it’s time to move in the personal trainer – do you know what I mean?
“I really went through that anxiety to the point where I was thinking I might have to pull out of this show. The ramifications of that are so big. So I just went ahead with it.
“Every day, I genuinely came back to the hotel and was like, ‘I didn’t die today’ so we go again.”
And if he didn’t eventually get in touch with his wife, she’d kill him anyway.
TO EL AND BACK
ILL-FATED BBC soap Eldorado is heading for a comeback after three decades – as UKTV prepares to rerun episodes.
The show, which was launched in 1992 and gained a loyal audience, was set in the fictional town of Los Barcos in Spain, focusing on the lives of British expats.
BBC soap Eldorado is heading for a comeback after three decades – as UKTV prepares to rerun episodes[/caption]
Cast members included EastEnders actors Derek Martin and Polly Perkins – Walford’s Charlie Slater and Rose Cotton.
It ran for 156 episodes before being canned for failing to live up to the impressive ratings of BBC flagship soap EastEnders, which began seven years before in 1985.
UKTV’s U&Drama will stream episodes from January 27.
Like most people who recall the seachange in TV at the start of the Nineties, Eldorado was one of those shows that was so bad, it was brilliant.
But I’ll still never forgive it for knocking Wogan off the telly.
FRY PUT THROUGH THE MILL
FORMER QI quiz host Sir Stephen Fry will this time be answering the questions as he takes to the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host seat.
He is the first famous name to appear before host Jeremy Clarkson as the new celebrity specials return to ITV1 on January 26.
Radio 2’s Richie Anderson and athlete Jeanette Kwakye will be among the celebs following Stephen, along with other names including Strictly’s Anton Du Beke, First Dates maitre d’ Fred Sirieix and boxer Tony Bellew.
Telly host Steph McGovern, Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi, football’s Dion Dublin, Olympic cyclist Dame Laura Kenny and ex-Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh are also among the latest line-up.
