Under Suspicion: Kate McCann review – A drama that doesn’t reveal the bigger picture

by

A star rating of 2 out of 5.

Following Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia de Luz, the police publicly focused their criticism on her parents, Kate and Gerry. This led to lasting public suspicion and years of speculation. News coverage often veered into overly dramatic reporting as well.

This new true-crime series from Channel 5—the network behind reconstructions of cases like the Soham murders and the Huw Edwards scandal—focuses on the beginning of the story: the moment Kate (played by Laura Bayston) was officially named a suspect in the investigation.

Instead of starting with the events before Madeleine’s disappearance on May 3rd, the story begins four months later, with Kate deeply affected by grief and constant public attention. She’s called in for another interview with Portuguese detectives.

The investigation has hit a dead end, with little reliable information and no one taken into custody. However, it soon becomes apparent that Inspectors Joao Carlos and Ricardo Paiva have shifted their focus, now trying to suggest that Kate herself is involved, rather than looking for an external suspect.

The following interviews are based on investigators’ written notes, not complete recordings, and quickly move from simple fact-finding to direct accusations.

The film uses dark, greenish lighting and close-up shots to make Kate feel trapped and defensive. However, since almost all the scenes take place in one interrogation room, the focus on questioning sometimes feels less artistic and more like a way to save money on filming.

The documentary offers just quick peeks at the broader investigation – things like a dog picking up a scent in the car, forensic teams searching the apartment, and even moments where Gerry McCann seemed annoyed with their lawyer, Carlos Pinto De Abreu. It’s all very fragmented, but gives you a sense of the pressure they were under.

The story could have been more powerful if it had focused more on how the trial played out in the news and how the public reacted, especially considering the often critical way they responded.

Despite everything, it’s surprising how nearly a formal accusation occurred, particularly considering the weak evidence and the fact that the McCanns were later found to have no involvement.

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The story is most gripping when Kate is offered a lighter sentence if she admits to accidentally causing her daughter’s death and hiding the body. This is when things become even more disturbing, as she understands the police have stopped looking for whoever took Madeleine.

While the show’s tight focus means important events after 2007 are only shown through text on the screen, it also allows for a deeper, more personal exploration of the central conflict.

Watching Kate grapple with the guilt of leaving her children home alone – and acknowledge that this regret will stay with her forever – we realize her own self-criticism is likely more punishing than any blame from others.

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Under Suspicion: Kate McCann is available to watch on 5.

Authors

David BrownDeputy Previews Editor, TopMob

David Brown is the Deputy Previews Editor at TopMob, where he focuses on crime and fantasy television. He’s a frequent media commentator, having appeared on BBC News, Sky News, and Radio 4’s Front Row. His writing has been featured in publications like the Guardian, the Sunday Times, and the i newspaper. Beyond journalism, David has also worked behind the scenes on the National Television Awards and contributed to documentaries about prominent figures such as Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly, and Take That.

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2026-05-21 01:04