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The director behind a BBC documentary into Nicola Bulley’s disappearance has said it was “nerve-racking” to put the partner of the Lancashire mother-of-two back into public focus.

The Search For Nicola Bulley explores the media coverage and the impact of “amateur internet sleuths” conducting their own investigations, as well as hearing from Lancashire Police and Ms Bulley’s family.

She disappeared on January 27 2023 while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre, shortly after dropping her daughters at school.

Her sister, Louise Cunningham, along with her parents Ernest and Dorothy Bulley and partner Paul Ansell all participated in the documentary as they reveal the impact of the public scrutiny on their lives.

Director Rachel Lob-levyt, who worked on Louis Theroux Interviews and Hospital, told the Radio Times that the “family tell their story in their own words, unfiltered”.

Nicola Bulley, 45, was last seen near the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre at around 9.20am on January 27. She was understood to have been walking her dog Willow, a springer spaniel, along the river. Her mobile phone and dog were later found by a bench by another dog-walker. Her body was found 23 days after she disappeared in a patch of undergrowth and branches by a river bend. After a two-day inquest in June, Dr. James Adeley, Lancashire’s Senior Coroner, said Nicola had died as a result of drowning. | police handout

She added: “We had a viewing with the family. It was difficult – obviously emotional for them. They feel the documentary really honours their experience, and honours Nikki.

“At the time she went missing, Paul was subject to a really difficult level of scrutiny.

“The idea of putting himself back in the public eye is nerve-racking but ultimately, he thought it the right thing to do.

“The social media sleuths felt entitled to say whatever they wanted. In the past we’d have talked about these things in the pub, whereas now people broadcast it online and everything is accelerated. Opinion takes on similar weight to verified information.”

A coroner recorded Ms Bulley’s death as accidental, and said she fell into the river and suffered “cold water shock”, and there was “no evidence” to suggest suicide.

A heartfelt message pinned to the bridge over the River Wyre which became a focal point for the community as the search for Nicola continued

Police had accused “TikTokers” of “playing private detectives” in the area amid her disappearance, and said they were “inundated with false information, accusations and rumours” relating to the case.

People on social media made false accusations about their being third-party involvement, and rumours were spread about a derelict house on the other side of the River Wyre, a red van in the area, a fisherman seen nearby and a glove belonging to Ms Bulley, which were all dismissed by police.

Her family have previously hit out at “wildly inaccurate speculation” after the 45-year-old’s death.

They released a statement through the production company Rogan Productions about the new documentary, saying that taking part “wasn’t an easy decision”.

They added: “Nikki’s face and name quickly became very recognisable, but there is so much to share about Nikki the person.

“Our sole aim is to provide the definitive record on Nikki to ensure she has the legacy that she deserves. Many people have aired their views about her disappearance and her untimely and tragic death, only we can speak about her as a mummy, partner, daughter, and sister.”

The riverside bench close to where Nicola was last seen became a focal point for the investigation. It was where Nicola Bulley's phone was found with her dog close-by Photo: Asadour Guzelian

The family also said: “It was emotionally draining reliving some of our experiences, but we wanted to do this for Nikki.”

An independent College of Policing review of the investigation into her disappearance found the relationship between police and the media “to be fractured”, and urged for it to be rebuilt.

It also criticised the disclosure of personal information about Ms Bulley’s health struggles as “avoidable and unnecessary”.

Her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished.

The Search For Nicola Bulley is set to air on October 3 on BBC One.

It was nerve-racking to put the partner of the Lancashire mother-of-two Nicola Bulley back into public focus

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