BBC Factual Commissions Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire

BBC Factual has commissioned Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire (w.t.), about the 1985 fire during a Bradford City FC match, from acme tv.

The documentary will remember May 11, 1985, when a fire ripped through one of the old wooden stands at a Bradford City FC match, killing 56 spectators. The game was going to be a historic one—the team had clinched promotion weeks earlier and had paraded the championship trophy around before kick off. Instead, the fatal disaster took place and changed the city and the game forever.

Margaret Thatcher traveled to the scene of the disaster, and the media went into overdrive about crowd safety.

Now, as the 40th anniversary looms in May 2025, the documentary will commemorate the story and its victims and survivors. It will feature personal testimony from those were there, many of whom will be speaking for the first time. This includes survivors, family members of the deceased and emergency service first responders.

Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire (w.t.) is being directed by Andy Worboys, executive produced by Jaimie D’Cruz and produced by George Grafton. It will debut on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

“This film gets at the heart of a modern dilemma,” said Simon Young, head of commissioning for history at BBC. “In a world where everything is recorded on film, how do we sensitively remember and commemorate? What should remain off limits? And how do we ensure that a tragedy is marked and the lessons learned for future generations? It’s an honor to be working on this project with the people of Bradford to ensure that this anniversary is not forgotten.”

D’Cruz, executive producer for acme tv, added, “The devastating fire at Valley Parade in May 1985 claimed 56 lives and had a huge impact on Bradford, on the nation and on the game of football itself. Yet in the years since, awareness of this extraordinary tragedy has largely faded from our collective memory. Making a commemorative film to mark the 40th anniversary of the event has been both a privilege and a responsibility, and we’re incredibly grateful to the community and those who were directly affected by the tragedy, who entrusted us to tell their stories.”