Nicola Bulleys partner agreed to appear in a new tell-all documentary about her disappearance to tackle entitled social media sleuths who put him under a really difficult level of scrutiny, its director has claimed.
Paul Ansell, Ms Bulleys partner of 12 years and father to their two children, was subjected to a barrage of unfounded online conspiracies as armchair detectives took an obsessive interest in the search for the mother-of-two.
Friends of the couple were even forced to beg online trolls to stop making disgusting allegations and vile theories online.
Ms Bulley vanished on January 27 last year while walking her dog Willow along the River Wyre in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire, shortly after dropping her daughters off at school.
Her mystery disappearance became one of the most high-profile modern missing person searches. After a frenzied three-week search which threatened to be derailed by internet sleuths, her body was found in the River Wyre by a member of the public on February 19.
The Search For Nicola Bulley will air on October 3 and digs deep into Ms Bulleys disappearance and tragic death. The family said it was emotionally draining to film the documentary, but did it to ensure she has the legacy she deserves.
Paul Ansell (L), Nicola Bulleys partner of 12 years, will appear in BBC documentary The Search For Nicola Bulley
The mysterious disappearance of Nicola Bulley gripped the nation for months in 2023, as both speculation and scrutiny surrounded the case of the missing mother
Rachel Lob-levyt, the director behind the BBC documentary, said it was nerve-racking to put the partner of the Lancashire mother back into public focus, but she felt it was the right thing to do.
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 wed 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.
Ms Bulleys 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.
Nicola Bulleys partner Paul Ansell speaks to the media during the search for the mother-of-two
Paul Ansell has agreed to the documentary to tackle entitled social media sleuths, its director has suggested
Candles are lit around a photo of Nicola Bulley (left) and her partner Paul Ansell on an altar at St Michaels Church in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire
Paul Ansell, (right) visiting the riverside with Peter Faulding, the underwater search expert called in by the family to help with the search in the River Wyre
The family released a statement through the production company Rogan Productions about the new documentary, saying that taking part wasnt an easy decision.
They added: Nikkis 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 family also said: It was emotionally draining reliving some of our experiences, but we wanted to do this for Nikki.
A coroner recorded Ms Bulleys death as accidental, and said she fell into the river and suffered cold water shock, and there was no evidence to suggest suicide.
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.
Nicola Bulley with her springer spaniel, Willow, who she took for a walk near the River Wye where she vanished into the river
Specialist Group International search a stretch of the River Wyre where Nicola Pulley went missing in Lancashire
The Bulley family solicitor Terry Wilcox (centre) and DCS Pauline Stables (L) read a statement after the coroners verdict outside County Hall, Preston, Lancashire on 27 June 2023
Her family have previously hit out at wildly inaccurate speculation after the 45-year-olds death.
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 Bulleys health struggles as avoidable and unnecessary.
Ms Bulleys body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished.