UK commissions Melissa Caddick doco, buys Nine’s Vanishing Act.

Britain’s ITV has commissioned a documentary into the life of fraudster Melissa Caddick who went missing in November 2020 having cheated 74 victims, including her friends and family, out of $23 million.

Three months later, surfers on a beach 250 miles south of Sydney made a grisly discovery – a washed up trainer containing human remains.

Life and Limb: The Missing Millionairess will explore her disappearance and seek to aid and narrate the story of victims. Fremantle’s Naked has produced Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile and The Killer Nanny… Did She Do It?

Fatima Salaria, Managing Director of Naked said: “At the heart of this missing persons case is a handful of victims and many, many missing millions. Potentially finding out what happened to Melissa and drawing attention to her case globally, it could bring an important chance for closure for so many of the people involved.”

Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV Controller of Factual, said: “We have had demonstrable success coupling the real story to dramas based on true events. The real story of Melissa Caddick is inherently full of drama and intrigue and with a sharp focus on the victims as well as unpicking each strand of the mystery we are sure this will be a compelling and extraordinary feature documentary.”

ITV has also acquired Nine / Screentime miniseries Vanishing Act from distributor DCD Rights starring Kate Atkinson in the lead role.

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO at DCD Rights, said: “We’re delighted that Vanishing Act has been picked up for ITV and ITVX.  It is a captivating, real-life mystery crime drama which will appeal to ITV viewers, as it has to audiences in Australia.”