New documentary looks at Jay Slater's disappearance in Tenerife
The 19-year-old's body was found around a month after he was reported missing last year
The Disappearance of Jay Slater gives an insight into the story of what happened to the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, when he went missing last year in Tenerife.
Jay was holidaying on the Spanish island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas on June 16 last year.
He is believed to have gone to a holiday rental apartment in the early hours of the next morning before vanishing, and was reported missing on June 18.
Evidence suggested he left the flat hours later, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and fell into a ravine.
A huge search was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on July 15.
The documentary airing on Channel 4 tonight (28/9) is the family’s story and follows them as they search for answers.
It looks at the conspiracy theories online and the abuse they received as a family.
Commissioning Editor, Rita Davies, said:
‘The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture.
We are so glad to be working with Anna on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief.
The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.’
Executive Producer, Anna Hall, said:
“We have been working with Debbie and Warren and Jay’s wider family since last June. What we have witnessed has been utterly horrific – not only the pain of a family in deep grief, but the full onslaught of the online world, the world of tiktokers and youtubers who feel they can say whatever they like, widely speculating about one family’s tragedy.
It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family – and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday 28th September 2025.