Channel 4 Commissions Nicholas Rossi/Arthur Knight Series

Channel 4 has ordered the three-part docuseries Extradition (w.t.), about U.S. fugitive Nicholas Rossi, from Five Mile Films.

A man claiming to be called Arthur Knight woke up from a Covid-induced coma in a Glasgow hospital only to be greeted by police in the culmination of an international manhunt. Law enforcement identified him as Rossi, a former child welfare campaigner and political lobbyist who faked his death two years prior after becoming a convicted sex offender and the prime suspect in at least three rapes.

The man found in the Glasgow hospital continues to claim he is Arthur Knight, and his wife, Miranda Knight, backs up his story. Law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic, however, are convinced that the man is really Rossi based on fingerprints and photographs of distinct tattoos, and they want him back in the U.S. to face justice. In June, a Sheriff’s Court in Edinburgh will decide if he should be sent to America to face trial.

Extradition (w.t.) will feature exclusive footage, first-person testimony and archive to follow the case in full.

Nick Mirsky, executive producer at Five Mile Films, said: “I am really pleased that Owen Phillips—producer of Leaving Neverland (Channel 4 and HBO), The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty (BBC Two), Barrymore: The Body in the Pool (Channel 4) and Murder in the Valleys (Sky Crime)—is working with Five Mile Films to tell this story. He’s an exceptional program-maker and has an unrivaled ability to get to the heart of a story. Series producer Molly Elmes (The Dog House for Channel 4) is one of the rising stars at Five Mile Films who has the rare combination of a light human touch with the ability to meticulously dig into the backstory uncovering shocking truths and a few journalistic scoops.”

Anna Miralis, senior commissioner for Channel 4, added: “With such an incredibly high caliber of documentary filmmakers, this series is likely to be both compelling and insightful. I will look forward to them delving into the unbelievable Arthur Knight story with the aim of discovering whether there is any truth in any of his multitude of claims.”