Sheridan Smith’s new BBC drama about Shannon Matthews is SLAMMED by the abducted schoolgirl’s relatives who brand it a ‘disgrace’
THE grandparents of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews have blasted a new BBC drama about her horrific faked kidnapping ordeal calling it a "disgrace" and making the programme "isn't right".
June and Gordon Matthews, who looked after Shannon for much of her young life, claim they won't be watching The Moorside as they say their granddaughter "deserves to live her life in peace".
In 2008, the nation was gripped when schoolgirl Shannon Matthews allegedly went missing after a swimming trip.
Her mum Karen was seen pleaded on TV for the safe girl’s return as West Yorkshire Police spent £3.2million to find her safe.
Hundreds of neighbours also joined in the 24-day search for the nine-year-old.
A few weeks later she was eventually discovered - drugged inside the base of a divan bed in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and it emerged that mum Karen had orchestrated the whole plot so she could bag the £50,000 reward money and split it with her accomplice Michael Donovan.
The house where Shannon was found less than a mile away at was that of Donovan, the uncle of Craig Meehan – who was Karen’s boyfriend at the time.
They had planned to release the schoolgirl, "discover her" then take her to a police station and claim the reward before splitting.
The harrowing tale however has now been made into a two-part drama and will air on the BBC on Tuesday night.
Speaking to the , grandmother June said: "Shannon deserves to live her life in peace. She deserves to be left alone.
"What happened to her was a trauma, a tragedy. It is sick and disgusting that it is being turned into a TV show.
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"It isn’t entertainment. It’s real life and it hasn’t even been ten years since it happened.
"If she sees it, Shannon is old enough now to understand that it is about her. She will know it is about the terrible things that happened to her. How is that fair?"
The 73-year-old also blasted actress Sheridan Smith, who plays mum Karen's friend and neighbour Julie Bushby who led the search for Shannon, and the other cast members for agreeing to take part in the show.
Grandfather Gordon added: "I won’t have that programme on in this house. What they’re doing isn’t right. The poor love. She should be left alone to forget."
The pair claim further insult was added when they received a letter from the production company behind the drama asking them to pass a letter on to daughter Karen, who served an eight year sentence for the despicable crime along with accomplice Michael Donovan, explaining she is to be one of the characters in the show.
The parents haven't seen or heard from her since she was arrested for the terrible crime, they say.
Since Shannon's faked kidnapping in 2008 Gordon’s health has deteriorated badly. He has lost almost three stones in weight and has been in and out of hospital, with anxiety leaving him without an appetite.
Karen Matthews was dubbed ‘the most hated mum in Britain’ for the crime.
The first part of The Moorside will be aired on BBC1 on February 7 at 9pm.
It will conclude a week later with the second half.
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