A DEATH ON DANCING LEDGE: ZARA McDERMOTT TO FRONT BBC THREE DOCUMENTARY SERIES

In a moving three-part documentary for BBC Three and iPlayer, Zara McDermott attempts to understand and shed light on the tragic circumstances around the death of Dorset teenager, Gaia Pope-Sutherland.

Gaia: A Death on Dancing Ledge will delve into the case of Gaia Pope-Sutherland, highlighting the families’ search for truth and justice. Gaia was 19 years old when she died in November 2017, this revealing new series tracks the events leading up to her death and explores the failings and oversights by officials, including the police and health care professionals, involved in her care.

The documentary will hear directly from Gaia’s friends and family about her life and the circumstances that led to her death, as well as from the former Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset at the time of her death.

As Zara speaks to a number of those closely involved in the case and attempts to piece the puzzle together, she continues to tackle the themes she has explored in her other hit documentary films for the BBC.

This timely three–part series will air on BBC Three and iPlayer from Tuesday 25th July and will explore whether enough was done in advance of Gaia’s death to protect and support her – and other young women and girls in the area - and examines what needs to change in the future.