• Jill Dando’s death occurred in 1999, and nearly 24 years later, Netflix announced a new documentary that will pay tribute to the British host. 
• The tragic shooting death of BBC Crimewatch host Jill in 1999 outside her West London home sparked the most extensive police investigation in Britain 
• In the multi-part series, Dando’s life, career, legacy, and the crime that was one of the most infamous unsolved murders of the 20th century will be revisited using archive material, new research, and revealing interviews.
• Dando’s murder is still unsolved despite the police having named several additional suspects.

Jill Dando’s death occurred in 1999, and nearly 24 years later, Netflix announced a new documentary that will pay tribute to the British host. 

A new Netflix documentary is being produced about the unsolved murder of British television host Jill Dando.

The tragic shooting death of BBC Crimewatch host Jill in 1999 outside her West London home sparked the most extensive police investigation in Britain since the Yorkshire Ripper.

Jill Dando was 37 years old at the time of her death. In the multi-part series, Dando’s life, career, legacy, and the crime that was one of the most infamous unsolved murders of the 20th century will be revisited using archive material, new research, and revealing interviews.

The documentary, which will air later in 2023, is directed by Marcus Plowright (Fred and Rose West: Reopened), with Emma Cooper serving as executive producer (The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes).

The show will be aired four years after the two programs, Jill Dando: The 20-Year Mystery on ITV and The Murder of Jill Dando on BBC One. 

Both of the shows marked the 20th anniversary of her death and were watched by a combined total of roughly 6.6 million overnight viewers.

It is among the most well-known British true crime documentaries on Netflix since The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which was also produced by Cooper when she worked for Pulse Films.

The truth behind Jill Dando’s death

Dando was fatally shot on the morning of April 26, 1999, in front of her West London house. Her murder became one of the most publicized and complex cases to solve in British history.

Due to Jill Dando’s death, one of the Metropolitan Police’s most extensive investigations in its history was undertaken. It is believed that a hired killer shot Jill.

Following a thorough investigation by the Metropolitan Police in response to Jill’s murder, Barry George was sentenced to death in July 2001. George was found guilty of murder by a jury. 

At the London Court of Appeal, George’s appeal against his conviction was denied in 2002. His argument that his conviction was “unsafe” was rejected by three judges. The House of Lords denies George’s request to contest his conviction again six months later.

The case is still under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

They claim they have new medical evidence that shows George’s mental issues would have prevented him from committing the crime and that further testimony from witnesses who were not called during the initial trial may help explain why a gunshot residue particle was discovered on his coat.

According to some sources, a blue Range Rover was spotted illegally parked on the Gowan Avenue street where she resided and was seen leaving the area on CCTV.

It was assumed that Jill’s murderer may have confused her for another BBC journalist who was the real target of an assassination attempt, according to documents presented to a Paris court in June 2022.

Given the obvious parallels in their occupations and appearances and the fact that they resided in the same area of London, lawyers contend that the assassin may have confused Miss Dando for a different target.

Dando’s murder is still unsolved despite the police having named several additional suspects.