Channel 5 to Air Documentary on France’s Mass Rape Trial Featuring Gisèle Pelicot’s Story

London, Nov 27 – A fast-turnaround documentary exploring one of France’s most shocking criminal trials will premiere on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom on Dec. 11, focusing on the decade-long abuse of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old Frenchwoman.

Titled The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial, the film examines the harrowing circumstances surrounding Pelicot, who was drugged by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, and raped by at least 70 men he had recruited online. The crimes spanned ten years and came to light after Gisèle waived her right to anonymity, drawing global attention to her case.

The trial, held in Avignon, has prompted outrage worldwide, with French prosecutors seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for Dominique Pelicot. Lawyers for 33 of the accused perpetrators have argued that their clients acted under diminished responsibility.

The Channel 5 documentary, produced by ITN Productions, includes exclusive interviews, including anonymized footage of one of the alleged rapists. The program explores the legal, cultural, and psychological ramifications of the case, as well as Gisèle Pelicot’s transformation into a feminist icon for her decision to publicly confront her abusers.

“Our news heritage and the agility of our production teams means ITN Productions is uniquely placed to produce a rigorous, detailed documentary tracking the impact of these disturbing crimes as the trial unfolds,” said Ian Rumsey, managing director of content at ITN Productions.

The documentary is executive produced by Jeremy Daldry, with Anna Davis and Oliver Price as producer-directors. Denise Seneviratne commissioned the project for Channel 5, with post-production work handled by ITN Post.

(Inputs from THR)

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