BBC Scotland commissions new documentary series - The Hunt for Peter Tobin
The Hunt for Peter Tobin is the third in the series of the award-winning true crime strand 'The Hunt for…' and follows the success of The Hunt for Bible John and The Hunt for the World's End Killers.
It follows the three separate investigations into young women who had seemingly vanished, and how they eventually revealed the existence of a serial killer targeting young women across the UK for more than three decades.
Vicky Hamilton was waiting for a bus on a snowy winter night in 1991 when the 15-year-old teenager disappeared. Her case became one of Scotland's biggest missing persons investigations. That summer 18-year-old Dinah McNicol vanished after hitchhiking home from a music festival in Kent. Then, 15 years later, 23-year-old Angelika Kluk went missing in Glasgow in 2006.
The series explores the ripple effects and the strain of their sudden disappearances on their families and friends of having a loved-one suddenly go missing. It includes interviews with family members, detectives, forensic scientists and journalists.
Like the two previous Hunt For… series, The Hunt for Peter Tobin is produced and directed by the multi-award winning team of film-maker Matt Pinder, and editors Audrey McColligan and Dave Clark. The Hunt for Bible John was described by The Guardian as 'the best true-crime documentary of the year' and by The Times 'as a 'chillingly brilliant piece of film-making.'
David Harron, Commissioning Executive, Factual at BBC Scotland says: 'This new series has the same distinguishing features to those that have gone before. It examines the Police investigations and the relentless pursuit of justice whilst at the same time telling the very real human stories which exist behind the headlines. It is this powerful combination, carefully crafted by the team, that makes for compelling viewing.'
Mick McAvoy, Head of Documentaries at Firecrest Films said, 'Matt Pinder has once again produced a sensitively crafted series that reveals the brutal impact of a loved one suddenly going missing, while also paying tribute to the strength and compassion of those who devoted their lives to finding the truth about the disappearances. In the shadow of the brutal crimes of Peter Tobin, this series will inspire viewers as they see the tireless police work, the efforts of the Missing People charity and the strength of the families of the victims over three decades.'
The Hunt for Peter Tobin will be broadcast on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer in March 2025.
JM2
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
John Torode confirms he was accused of racism in Gregg Wallace review
The report, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language. MASTERCHEF presenter John Torode has confirmed he is the subject of an allegation of using racist language that was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of co- presenter Gregg Wallace . In a post on Instagram, Torode confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. His statement said: 'Following publication of the Executive Summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld. READ MORE: What does review into BBC's How to Survive a Warzone really say? 'For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. 'The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards. 'I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. (Image: PA Wire) 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' Reports in The Sun said Torode had been asked to leave the show and claim he had mental health issues following the allegation. A BBC insider said they do not recognise this. It comes after Wallace said he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the report, which included one allegation of 'unwelcome physical contact' that was upheld. In November 2024, the show's production company, Banijay UK, announced that Wallace, 60, would step away from his role on MasterChef while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. In a statement to the PA news agency, he said: 'For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. READ MORE: Newsletter: Why is the BBC not talking about Scottish concerns? 'None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended.' The report found that the 'majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018', with only one allegation substantiated after 2018. It also concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated'. The report noted that during the course of the investigation, which was over a seven-month period, Wallace was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and said that the findings should be viewed in the context of his neurodiversity. In his statement, Wallace added: 'I'm relieved that the Banijay report fully recognises that my behaviour changed profoundly in 2018. Some of my humour and language missed the mark. I never set out to harm or humiliate. I always tried to bring warmth and support to MasterChef, on screen and off. 'After nearly 20 years on the show, I now see that certain patterns, shaped by traits I've only recently begun to understand, may have been misread. I also accept that more could have been done, by others and by myself, to address concerns earlier. 'A late autism diagnosis has helped me understand how I communicate and how I'm perceived. I'm still learning.' He praised the show's production company, Banijay, saying they had 'given me great support, and I thank them'. The former greengrocer added: 'There will be more casualties if the BBC continues down this path, where protecting its legacy matters more than protecting people. For my part, with full legal support, I will consider my next move.' Banijay UK said that 'Wallace's return to MasterChef (is) untenable' following the number of sustained allegations. Patrick Holland, chief executive of Banijay UK, said that while the report 'makes for uncomfortable reading', it also provided 'valuable insight to ensure that going forward everyone working on our productions feels safe and supported, and that inappropriate behaviour is quickly and professionally dealt with'. The BBC also said it has 'informed' Wallace that it has 'no plans to work with him in future', adding in a statement: 'This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us. 'Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour, both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.' The BBC also addressed the future of a series of MasterChef filmed last year which has not yet been aired, saying it had not made a final decision on broadcasting it. Last year, a BBC News investigation revealed a string of allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and alleged inappropriate behaviour against Wallace by 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark. A statement from Wallace's lawyers at the time said that it 'is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', as reported by BBC News. Ahead of the official publishing of the external review, Wallace claimed in an Instagram post on July 8, which appears to have been taken down, that he had been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Superinjunctions: The draconian court-issued gagging orders used to keep information secret
The Ministry of Defence used an unprecedented superinjunction to cover up a data breach that put an estimated 100,000 Afghans at risk of reprisals from the Taliban. The superinjunction was granted contra mundum, meaning 'against the world', by the courts. Here's what you need to know about the legal order: What is a superinjunction? An injunction is a legal order which prevents a person or publication reporting certain information, which is said to be confidential or private. A superinjunction adds an extra layer to this by banning the reporting of the existence of the order itself. Under a superinjunction, a person cannot publicise or inform others about the existence of the order, or the underlying legal proceedings. Superinjunctions need to be kept under review by the court and can only be granted when they are strictly necessary. If someone breaches a superinjunction they may be found in contempt of court and could be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized. The use of superinjunctions, also colloquially referred to as gagging orders, gained prominence in the 2000s after a string of celebrity scandals. A committee was set up in 2010 to examine their use following the Trafigura and John Terry cases. In the case of Trafigura, an oil-trading firm was granted a superinjunction against The Guardian to stop the paper publishing details of a report commissioned by the company into a toxic-dumping incident in Ivory Coast. In the John Terry case, the former England captain was initially granted a superinjunction preventing a News of the World story about his private life. Journalist Andrew Marr also took out a controversial superinjunction in 2011 over an extramarital affair, and later admitted he felt 'uneasy' about using such an order. Superinjunctions are now rarely used. According to a written parliamentary question answered in April 2024, there is currently just one superinjunction in force which was made in the Kings Bench Division of the High Court. Following an inquiry into the use of superinjunctions in the 2000s, a mechanism was put in place to enable parliament to have a record of the number of superinjunctions currently in force. This is collected by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. The Ministry of Defence told the court that it did not think it likely that the one superinjunction referred to in parliamentary questions was the one used in the Afghan leak case. This is because the Afghan superinjunction relates to national security and is therefore exempt from being reported. However as the MoD did not know if a second superinjunction was in place, it could not be sure. Why was this superinjunction without precedent? This superinjunction was granted 'contra mundum'. Contra mundum, Latin for 'against the world', means it is applied to anyone and everyone. The effect is that a person could be found in contempt of court if they shared any information about the injunction, whether or not they are participating in the proceedings. There has been previous use of contra mundum injunctions, but High Court judges believed this to be the first contra mundum superinjunction. This is also believed to be the first superinjunction granted to the British government . How long has the superinjunction been in place? The superinjunction was granted on 1 September 2023 meaning it was in place for more than 21 months. Did the government apply for this superinjunction? No, the government did not initially apply for a superinjunction. They applied for a 'time-limited' injunction for a period of four months. Mr Justice Knowles, the High Court judge who first heard the case, granted the contra mundum superinjunction proactively. What have judges said about this superinjunction? When the case came in front of Mr Justice Nicklin in September 2023, he commented on the exceptional nature of the injunction. He wrote that 'such orders are wholly exceptional, require very clear and compelling justification, and must be kept under active review by the court.' He added: 'A superinjunction granted in proceedings contra mundum is, I believe, unprecedented. The court will want to give anxious consideration at the earliest point as to whether there remains a justification for such an order or whether some lesser restrictions ought to be imposed'. The case was passed to Mr Justice Chamberlain for all future hearings. In a request to the attorney general for the appointment of security-cleared lawyers in the case, Justice Chamberlain wrote that 'as far as the court is aware, this is the first contra mundum superinjunction which has ever been granted'. He described the effect of such a superinjunction in a judgement from November 2023 (but which can only now be reported), writing: 'The grant of a superinjunction to the government is likely to give rise to understandable suspicion that the court's processes are being used for the purposes of censorship. This is corrosive of the public's trust in government… the grant of a superinjunction has the effect of completely shutting down these mechanisms of accountability, at least while the injunction is in force'. 'In this case, the policy decisions in question could themselves have implications for the lives and safety of many individuals. If the superinjunction is continued, they will be taken in a scrutiny vacuum. I work on the basis that ministers will do their honest best to take the decisions they consider in the national interest, but it is axiomatic in our system that decisions subject to public and parliamentary scrutiny are not only more legitimate, but are also likely to be better than ones taken in secret'. Why and when was the superinjunction lifted? The Afghan data breach superinjunction was lifted by Mr Justice Chamberlain at 12pm on Tuesday, July 15. He made the decision to lift the order after defence secretary John Healey came to the view it was no longer necessary. The Ministry of Defence told the court that he had considered the conclusions of a policy review commissioned by the government into the data breach and response to it. As a result of this review, the Ministry of Defence's assumptions on the risk posed to individuals named on the database had changed. Mr Healey made the decision to close the Afghan Response Route (ARR) set up to evacuate those affected and to recommend the injunction be discharged.
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
‘Unforgettable' film with perfect Rotten Tomatoes score now available to stream
A critically acclaimed Belgian drama about childhood bullying is now streaming in the UK – and it's not one to miss. Playground, directed by Laura Wandel, has been hailed as a harrowing yet deeply moving portrait of school life through a child's eyes. Released in 2021, the film follows young Nora as she navigates her first days at primary school, only to discover her older brother is being bullied. Her attempts to help him spiral into consequences neither of them are prepared for. The 72-minute feature stars Maya Vanderbeque in a standout performance, alongside Günter Duret, Karim Leklou, Laura Verlinden, Lena Girard Voss, and Thao Maerten. Celebrated at major film festivals, Playground picked up the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes, the Sutherland Trophy at the BFI London Film Festival, and Best Film from the Belgian Film Critics Association. Amazon Prime Video now hosts the film in the UK, with its synopsis reading: 'It's Nora's first day at school. Concerned at her older brother being bullied, she unintentionally sets in motion events beyond her control.' It currently holds a flawless 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Guardian calling it a 'remarkable achievement' and Variety praising its 'rigorous, resolute focus on one little girl fighting a lonely, frightened battle for her future selfhood.' The New York Times also lauded the film, agreeing: 'Wandel is charting a moral awakening and focusing on the questions that many movies rarely engage. How do we love, and why? How do we become, who do we become?' More Trending Fans are just as enthusiastic, with X user @edgarwright writing: 'Laura Wandel's 'Playground', an intense, unforgettable perfectly formed drama with some of the best child performances committed to screen. Highly recommended.' omg the cutthroat world of primary school. UN MONDE (aka PLAYGROUND) is even more nerve-racking than EIGHTH GRADE. Like the Dardenne bros, debuting Belgian director Laura Wandel has the knack of imbuing social realist situations with thriller-like tension. And only 72 mins! — Anne Billson aka @ (@AnneBillson) October 31, 2021 PLAYGROUND (Laura Wandel): had to cross an actual playground on my way out of this and it felt like crossing a minefield in an active war zone. Exceptionally immersive, moving and disturbing, centred on one of the most impressive child performances of recent years. #SSIFF69 — Jessica Kiang (@jessicakiang) September 22, 2021 @jessicakiang agreed: 'Exceptionally immersive, moving and disturbing, centred on one of the most impressive child performances of recent years.' @AnneBillso posted: 'UN MONDE (aka PLAYGROUND) is even more nerve-racking than EIGHTH GRADE. Like the Dardenne bros, debuting Belgian director Laura Wandel has the knack of imbuing social realist situations with thriller-like tension. And only 72 mins!' Long story short, if you're interested in good cinema, stream The Playground while you can. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Jeremy Clarkson ruffles feathers as he brazenly reveals advert that was 'banned' MORE: 'Hidden treasure' music biopic finally arrives on Amazon Prime Video MORE: Amazon Prime fans beat the heat and binge 'best sci-fi series in years'
