Sarah Payne: Unforgotten: 1. Missing
Show notes
On 1 July 2000, eight-year-old Sarah Payne is playing in a field near her grandparents' home in West Sussex when she sets off back to the house alone. Her brother goes after her, but by the time he reaches the end of the field, she is gone. That evening, her mother, Sara, has to dial 999 and tell the operator: I've lost my daughter.
Almost immediately the story of the missing child dominates the headlines, and Sussex Police make the unusual decision to work arm in arm with the media in searching for her. Making almost daily public appeals, Sara does everything she can to keep the story in the headlines. As the days go on with no sign of Sarah, she refuses to give up hope that her daughter will be found alive.
Shadow World: Gripping stories from the shadows — BBC investigations from across the UK.
Presenter and Series Producer: Edmund Coulthard Producer: Joanna Humphreys Sound Design: Iain Chambers Head of Production: Stephanie Edwards Production Coordinator: Neena Abdullah Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Commissioning Editor for BBC Radio 4: Daniel Clarke Commissioning Executive for BBC Radio 4: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor for BBC Local: Alistair Miskin
A Forest production for BBC Radio 4