Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story is a six-part British television series, based on the true life kidnapping of British model Chloe Ayling. It is made for BBC Three with Nadia Parkes in the lead role. BBC Studios produced the series which has been written by Georgia Lester, directed by Al Mackay and produced by Clare Shepherd.
| Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story | |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Georgia Lester |
| Directed by | Al Mackay |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Claire Shepherd |
| Production company | |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 14 August – 28 August 2024 |
Premise
editModel Chloe Ayling arrived in Milan, Italy for a modelling job in 2017 only to be abducted by brothers Łukasz and Michał Herba. She was held for six days for a ransom of £265,000. The brothers were sentenced to jail in 2018.[1][2]
Cast
edit- Nadia Parkes as Chloe Ayling
- Adrian Edmondson as Phil Green
- Nigel Lindsay as Adrian Sington
- Emmanuele Aita as Gianluca
- Olive Gray as Amber
- Eleonora Romandini as Nicoletta
- Chiara Baccelliere
- Julian Świeżewski as MD/Łukasz Herba
- Jaroslaw Ciepichal as Michał Herba
- Christine Tremarco as Bea
- Lorenzo Richelmy as Francesco
- Robert Glenister as Piers Morgan
- Louise Delamere as Susanna Reid
Production
editThe project was announced in April 2023 and is made with the full agreement of Chloe Ayling.[3] The series is being written by Georgia Lester and Chloe Ayling was quoted as saying that Lester and the production team had been “incredibly supportive” and that she “couldn't be happier that they are making this series."[4] The project is directed by Al Mackay and Clare Shepherd produces. The executive producers are Priscilla Parish, Michael Parke, and Andrew Morrissey for BBC Studios with Lucy Richer for the BBC, and Georgia Lester.[5]
In July 2023, Nadia Parkes, Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Lindsay were announced to be in the cast, with Parkes playing Chloe Ayling.[6]
Filming began in June 2023.[7] Filming locations include the UK and Italy.[8]
Broadcast
editThe series was broadcast in the UK on BBC Three on 14 August 2024.[9][10]
Reception
editThe series received mixed reviews from critics. Writing in the i, Emily Baker called it a "gripping, propellant drama", awarding it four stars out of five.[11] Vicky Jessop of the Evening Standard gave it the same rating, describing it as "a depressing indictment of how the tabloid press demonise young women" but one that "expertly toes the line between fascinating and depressing."[12]
Hayley Campbell of BBC Radio 5 Live, however, acknowledged it was "fascinating" but "a little slow", while her colleague Scott Bryan said it was "a bit uneven" and "not a Must-Watch".[13] In The Guardian, Jack Seale highlighted what he perceived as the lack of a "compelling narrative", observing that "there’s a lot of inert drama to plough through before later episodes focus more rewardingly on Ayling’s time in the public eye."[14]
References
edit- ^ Rodger, James (4 April 2023). "BBC announces new crime drama based on kidnapped model Chloe Ayling". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Hatterstone, Simon (7 July 2018). "Kidnapped model Chloe Ayling: 'People didn't believe me because I wasn't in tears'". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "The BBC announces new drama Kidnapped (w/t) for BBC Three and iPlayer". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Sneddon, Dan (6 April 2023). "Celebrity Big Brother's Chloe Ayling responds to new BBC drama about her abduction". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (4 April 2023). "Kidnapping Of Model Chloe Ayling To Be Dramatized For BBC By 'Killing Eve' Writer Georgia Lester". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Nadia Parkes to portray Chloe Ayling in upcoming BBC Three and iPlayer factual drama Kidnapped". bbc.co.uk. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Filming begins on British model's real-life kidnap story". Theknowledgeonline. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Nadia Parkes to lead BBCS Chloe Ayling drama". televisual.com. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Cremona, Patrick (5 July 2023). "Chloe Ayling kidnapping drama casts Nadia Parkes as British model". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Harrison, Phil (14 August 2024). "TV tonight: a disturbing drama about the real life kidnapped British model". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Baker, Emily (14 August 2024). "Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story review: We should be ashamed of how we treated her". i. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Jessop, Vicky (13 August 2024). "Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story on BBC Three review: fascinating and depressing". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Must Watch reviews 'Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling story'". BBC Radio 5 Live. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Seale, Jack (14 August 2024). "Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story review – TV as nonsensical as the crime it's based on". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2024.