Jill Dando documentary – when is The Murder of Jill Dando on TV, what time is it on and what channel?
BRITISH journalist, TV presenter and newsreader Jill Dando was best known for being the host of BBC’s Crimewatch from 1995-1999.
But who killed her in 1999 and when will The Murder Of Jill Dando air on BBC One? Here’s what we know.
Who was Jill Dando?
Jill, from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, was an English journalist, television presenter and newsreader and one of the best-known faces on British television.
From 1995 until she died she was the presenter of BBC’s Crimewatch and in 1997 she was awarded the BBC Personality of the Year.
Jill was shot dead on April 26, 1999, on the doorstep of her home in Fulham, West London.
The 37-year-old’s body was discovered by neighbour Helen Doble 14 minutes later.
Forensic studies showed Jill was killed by a single shot to her temple fired from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol pressed against her head above her left ear.
Neighbours did not hear the gunshot.
The only confirmed sighting of the killer was by Jill’s next-door neighbour Richard Hughes, who described a 6ft white man aged around 40 walking away from the scene.
At the time of her death Jill was engaged to be married to gynaecologist Alan Farthing.
When is The Murder Of Jill Dando on BBC One?
The Murder of Jill Dando airs 9pm TONIGHT (April 2, 2019) on BBC One.
David Brindley, the BBC’s head of commissioning for factual programmes, said Dando’s murder “sparked one of the biggest investigations the Metropolitan Police had ever launched”.
said the film would “go behind the headlines and speculation to offer unique insights into Jill’s life and the hunt for her murderer”.
It includes interviews with Hamish Campbell, the senior investigating officer, as well as Dando’s brother Nigel and her former colleagues Martyn Lewis and Jennie Bond.
The film is being broadcast just a few weeks prior to the 20th anniversary of Dando’s death, April 26.
Will the culprit who killed Jill ever be found?
The police officer who led the probe into Jill’s murder 20 years ago fears she may never get justice.
Hamish Campbell says the Crimewatch presenter’s murderer will probably never be caught or convicted.
Retired Det Chief Supt Campbell appears in the new BBC documentary to mark the 20th anniversary.
He defended the investigation into Barry George, 58, and the lack of new suspects or lines of inquiry.
Mr Campbell said: “Do I think someone will be brought back to court? Probably not, no.”
Asked if a new suspect would appear in court he replied: “No, no.”
There have been many theories about her murder including that Serbian mafia bosses were responsible.
Who killed Jill Dando?
Local man Barry George was convicted and jailed for her murder in 2001 based on what the prosecution claimed was gunshot residue in his coat pocket.
His conviction was overturned on appeal in 2007 and he was found not guilty after a second trial in 2008.
The case has remained unsolved amid speculation this was a “professional” hit.
Former police officer Mark Williams-Thomas revealed in February 2017 a list of 100 suspects that weren’t followed up, and an ex-Scotland Yard boss claimed that key evidence was “largely ignored”.
An unidentified hitman claimed he knows who was behind the murder – but won’t say for fear he’ll be killed.
The gunman said he had “no doubt in my mind” that Jill Dando was murdered by a “professional killer”.
On ITV’s This Morning in 2017, he said: “It was a professional, no doubt about it. The person still at large is very dangerous.”
When asked about the other names on the list of suspects he said: “One particular name stands out to me but I won’t identify that person because he is very dangerous.
“If I said who it was they would come after me.”
Theories surrounding the murder include an IRA attack, a hit by a London underworld gang after she reported on them for Crimewatch, and a revenge killing by Serbian warlords after she fronted an appeal for Kosovan refugees.
What happened in the investigation?
Within six months of her death, more than 2,500 people had been spoken to and police had taken more than 1,000 statements.
Eventually, attention was focused on a man who lived about half a mile from her home, who had a history of stalking women and sexual offences.
After a trial at the Old Bailey, Barry George was convicted of the crime, but after eight years in prison was acquitted.
Williams-Thomas claims cops ordered two “offender profiles” to understand who might have taken the presenter’s life.
But he alleges police also asked for a third profile, even after charging Barry George.
When his legal team asked to see the profiles he claims the Crown Prosecution Service said they “never existed”.
Scotland Yard insisted police “fully investigated the circumstances into the murder of Jill Dando”.
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