CHANNEL 4 TELL THE INSIDE STORY OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JAY SLATER

The Disappearance of Jay Slater’ is a new documentary announced by Channel 4 and is inside, exclusive story of what happened to Jay Slater.

As the world’s media were following the story minute by minute last summer, Candour Productions in Leeds were in an incredibly unique position: they had access to the Coronial process in Lancashire. From Jay’s post-mortem to Jay’s inquest, the team have been with the family every step of the way over the last year, as they try and understand exactly what happened to Jay outside of the public gaze.

The Disappearance of Jay Slater is the family’s story and follows them as they search for answers about what happened to Jay, witnessing the conspiracy theories raging online, the subsequent horrific abuse they received as a family, which is an hourly onslaught that continues to this day. 

Amid huge speculation around Jay’s disappearance and the enormity of the press intrusion, these cameras were the only media in the world granted full access to film both Jay’s post-mortem and inside the church at Jay’s funeral.

This is a film not only about a tragedy -the story of Jay – a young lad who adored his family and his friends who went to Tenerife to enjoy a music festival. It’s also the story of the new world we live in of ‘online true crime armchair detectives’ and the consequences of the ferile, unchecked online world. 

Rita Daniels, Commissioning Editor says, ‘The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture. We are so glad to be working with Anna on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief. The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.’

Executive Producer Anna Hall said: “We have been working with Debbie and Warren and Jay’s wider family since last June. What we have witnessed has been utterly horrific – not only the pain of a family in deep grief, but the full onslaught of the online world, the world of tiktokers and youtubers who feel they can say whatever they like, widely speculating about one family’s tragedy...

"It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family – and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation. It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife – and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family.“

The Disappearance of Jay Slater is a single film, Executive Producer Anna Hall, directed by Annaliese Edwards for Candour Productions, commissioned by Rita Daniels for Channel 4.