WHEN three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing in May 2007 it made headlines around the globe.

But for her panic-stricken mum Kate, the tragedy was made even worse when she was accused of killing her own child.

Close-up portrait of missing British girl Madeleine McCann looking at the camera.
Three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing in May 2007Credit: Reuters
 

Miguel Freire as Inspector Ricardo Paiva and Laura Bayston as Kate McCann in "Suspect: Kate McCann."
Gritty Channel 5 crime drama Suspect: Kate McCann stars Laura Bayston as KateCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Detectives told her they had evidence that proved her involvement and that if she didn’t confess she would face murder charges.

Now, gritty Channel 5 crime drama Suspect: Kate McCann will focus on that tense 48 hours.

Killing Eve’s Laura Bayston will play Kate, with Braveheart’s James Robinson as dad Gerry.

In my sneak peek of the show — which delves into a chapter of the tragedy that has been less explored — Kate is seen being grilled by Inspector Ricardo Paiva (Miguel Freire).

Commissioning Editor Dan Louw said: “This fantastic film goes where the cameras couldn’t — behind the closed doors of the interview room — to create a moving drama from documentary evidence.”

Meanwhile, a second film called Suspect: The Road Rage Killer will explore the case of Tracie Andrews, played by Emma Rigby, who killed her fiancé Lee Harvey in 1996 following an argument in their car.

Both will come to Channel 5 later this year.