Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax

Before QAnon, before Pizzagate, a lurid story about a primary school in Hampstead, North London, galvanized conspiracy theorists around the world.

Overview

Two children accused parents and teachers of leading a paedophilic satanic cult, supposedly headquartered in secret rooms on the school premises. The story was not true. But once the fire was lit, it was hard to put out. Emily Turner’s film considers the real-world impact of an outrageous online conspiracy theory, exploring the importance of truth and the cost of lies.

Production

Story Films, Channel 4 Television