PREVIEW: Reclaiming Amy, BBC Two

To mark the ten-year anniversary of the death of Amy Winehouse, her closest family and friends, who were with her throughout her life until the very end, reveal the truth about the music icon and the impact that her loss has had on them.

Amy’s mother Janis, who has never spoken in depth before, wants to reclaim the legacy of her daughter, celebrating Amy as the complex, strong and incredible woman she was, and telling a version of events that often differs from the story of the singer that has so far been told.

Janis lives with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition which threatens to strip her of her memories of her daughter. With the help of those who knew Amy best, including friends Naomi, Chantelle, Catriona and Michael, all of whom have never spoken publicly before, Janis pieces together the sides of her daughter that have rarely been seen and have never been fully understood.

The family is still grieving for Amy. After she died they locked away most of her possessions in a storage facility, which Janis now reopens for the first time. Facing the pain and tragedy of their loss, she’s keen to make sure that Amy is remembered as a powerful force of nature who brought joy and humour to everything she did.

Janis’ ex-husband Mitch, who was often at Amy’s side throughout her career, speaks candidly about the criticisms he has faced, and reveals the support that family and friends gave to Amy during her struggles with addiction. Charting the rise of Amy’s fame and the impact of the press attention that came with it, as well as private tragedies like the loss of her grandmother, the film challenges the idea that Amy’s problems stemmed from an unhappy childhood and the divorce of her parents.

The film also explores the truth about her battles with addiction and shows that she was facing far bigger mental health struggles than have been previously understood.

With access to never-before-seen family archive and rare musical performances, this highly personal and powerful account of the life and death of one of Britain’s best loved musicians offers a new interpretation of her life, her loves and her legacy.

Airs Friday 23rd July at 9pm on BBC Two.