Harold Shipman: Could it Happen Again, set for Radio 4 this week

Ann Alexander, a former lawyer who worked on behalf of the families of Harold Shipman’s murder victims, has written, produced and presented a new documentary about the case, which is set to air on BBC Radio 4 this week.

Altrincham-based Alexander represented the interests of the families at the four-year Public Inquiry into the case of the mass murderer, which was chaired by Dame Janet Smith.

She has since retired from the legal profession and is using her experience to turn her hand to broadcasting, showcasing her first documentary on Public Inquiries last year.

The reception this enjoyed led Alexander to independently produce the new programme directly with Radio 4. Entitled ‘Shipman: Could it happen again?’ the show airs this Thursday at 8pm and marks the tenth anniversary of the doctor’s formal conviction for the 15 murders he is known to have perpetrated.

Speaking to How-Do about the transition from lawyer to broadcaster, she commented: “Having been interviewed hundreds of times on news programmes throughout my legal career about my high profile and newsworthy medical cases, I had always wanted to make my own documentary on Radio 4.

“I am fascinated by talk radio and how it works. I researched wrote and presented my first programme “Public Inquiries” which was broadcast last October as part of the ‘Analysis’ series and is still available (at www.publicinquiries.org.uk ).”

Of the Shipman case she added: “Whilst in practice, I fought the Government to secure a public Inquiry on behalf of the families of Shipman’s victims, but after a four year Inquiry and now 10 years on, there is still a debate as to whether patients are sufficiently protected to ensure it can’t happen again.

“For my second documentary, I was lucky enough to secure an exclusive interview with Lady Justice Smith who chaired the Inquiry - I hadn’t realised when she agreed quite how many requests she had turned down.”

Alexander noted that, despite the fact that the show is yet to be broadcast, it was already attracting “a great deal of interest” at the BBC.

www.annalexander.co.uk

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