Fremantle commissions "Vanishing Act" and "Life and Limb: The Missing Millionaires"

ITV has commissioned "Life and Limb: The Missing Millionaires" and Melissa Caddick's drama "Vanishing Act," a working title, from DCD Rights. Both Factual and Drama have now been now greenlit for ITV and ITVX. "Life and Limb: The Missing Millionaires," produced by Naked, will explore the extraordinary disappearance of this committed fraudster, which has spawned countless competing theories amongst web sleuthing communities and generated thousands of news articles. It will seek to aid and narrate the story of Melissa’s victims, as well as bring them some true closure in this modern-day tale of deceit, mystery and the still missing millions of dollars.  The commission comes after the success of ITV commissions Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile and The Killer Nanny… Did She Do It? as Naked build on their reputation as a key player in the premium factual market. The 90-minute title was commissioned by Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual, ITV. The Executive Producers will be Fatima Salaria and Fiona Caldwell for Naked. Fremantle will distribute the series internationally. 

A new ITV documentary will delve into the life of Australian millionairess Melissa Caddick who went for a morning run in Sydney in November 2020 and never returned home. Three months later, surfers on a beach 250 miles south of Sydney made a grisly discovery - a washed-up trainer containing human remains. The story gripped Australia - on the surface, she was a successful businesswoman who had everything she ever dreamed of including a family, luxury penthouse, and designer wardrobe. But what transpired was that Melissa, a financial advisor, had cheated 74 victims, including her friends and family, out of $AUD23 million.  “At the heart of this missing person case is a handful of victims and many, many missing millions," Fatima Salaria, Managing Director of Naked and Life and Limb Executive Producer said. "Potentially finding out what happened to Melissa and drawing attention to her case globally, could bring an important chance for closure for so many of the people involved.”

ITV has also acquired "Vanishing Act," also a working title, from distributor DCD Rights, a Screentime Banijay Production drama. The title tells the story of  Melissa Caddick’s disappearance after being confronted by authorities for her alleged multi-million dollar swindling.  The three-part series portrays Australia in the grip of the mystery as theories abound about Melissa’s fate following the discovery of her disembodied foot inside her running shoe.  The title focuses on charismatic con-artist, as well as those who suddenly found themselves grieving for a lost friend and daughter while coming to terms with a monumental betrayal. Her life was lost, but theirs would never be the same again. “We have had demonstrable success coupling the real story to dramas based on true events," Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV Controller of Factual, said. "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."

The title stars Kate Atkinson as Melissa Caddick, Colin Friels as George K, Jerome Velinsky as Anthony Koletti, and Maya Stange as Angie Beyerdorf. A Screentime Banijay Production for Nine Network Australia in Association with Screen NSW, Both "Life and Limb: The Missing Millionaires" and "Vanishing Act" will be shown on ITV and ITVX. “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," Nicky Davies Williams, CEO at DCD Rights, said.