Shannon Matthews' grandparents call new BBC drama 'sick and disgusting'

The grandparents of Shannon Matthews have called a new BBC TV show based on the fake kidnapping "sick and disgusting".

The drama, starring Sheridan Smith, revolves around the hoax kidnap of the then-nine-year-old girl, who was drugged and hidden by her mum Karen and her stepfather's uncle.

Both kidnappers planned to "find" Shannon and split the £50,000 reward on offer.

They were later arrested and jailed.

Shannon Matthews was missing for 24 days and became a national story in that time

But now speaking to the Daily Mail, Shannon's grandparents have criticised the BBC for making The Moorside, a drama about the events.

Mother of Karen and grandmother to Shannon, June Matthews says: "Shannon deserves to live her life in peace. She deserves to be left alone.

"What happened to her was a trauma, a tragedy.

"It is sick and disgusting that it is being turned into a TV show."

Sheridan Smith (left) as Julie Bushby and Gemma Whelan as Karen Matthews

The BBC has responded by saying that the show doesn't focus on Shannon Matthews.

A spokesman says: "Her abduction is not portrayed, nor are her experiences during the time she was missing.

"The drama tells the story of the women who led the campaign to find her."

It airs in two parts, tomorrow night at 9pm on BBC One, and next Tuesday at the same time.

June Matthews says that she is "surprised" that Bafta-winning actress Sheridan Smith signed up for the show.

Smith plays Julie Bushby, a neighbour of the Matthews family, who led the community search to find Shannon back in 2008.

Julie Bushby (second from right) with other neighbours who campaigned to find Shannon Matthews

Gemma Whelan, best known as Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, plays mum Karen.

Shannon's mum was seen a lot in the media at the time, pleading for the return of her daughter, before the police were tipped off that she was the one who had in fact kidnapped her own daughter.

Shannon is now 18 and living with a new family.

"If she sees [the BBC drama], Shannon is old enough now to understand that it is about her," says her grandmother June.

"She will know it is about the terrible things that happened to her.

"How is that fair? It will upset her."

Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan were both released after four years in prison

Karen and her accomplice, Michael Donovan (who was her partner's uncle), were released from prison in 2012, after serving half of their sentences.

The BBC did ask grandparents June and Gordon Matthews to pass on a message to Karen explaining that she was to be one of the characters in the drama.

But Gordon says that they "haven't seen or spoken to Karen since she was arrested."

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