Whether you’ve found yourself glued to the latest series of Unforgotten or are yet to watch a single episode, a new spin-off is coming that will please fans and newbies alike. The Real Unforgotten delves into real-life cold cases that have been the inspiration for the ITV series starring Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan – and it reveals some terrifying truths about the show.
According to a TV insider, the two-part documentary was a no-brainer for ITV bosses. "Often real-life events get featured in factual TV shows and then inspire dramas, but in this case it’s the other way around. ITV bosses saw this as a no-brainer and there are plenty of incredible cold cases to choose from that can feature,” they said. Intrigued? Here’s everything we know about the upcoming spin-off…
What's The Real Unforgotten about?
Focusing on the case of murdered Linslade shopkeeper, Carol Morgan, the two-part documentary will examine how detectives finally pieced together a 43-year-old murder case. It's exactly like we see in Unforgotten - only it's real.
The series will reveal how a six-year re-investigation by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit led to the conviction of Carol's husband Allen Morgan in 2024 for conspiracy to murder.
With full access to the investigation for the last six years, we’ll see detectives pick their way through dead ends to discover the truth, how they targeted and arrested the suspects, planned the whole interrogation process - and tackled the lies and inconsistencies they found. Ultimately, it will showcase the terrifying reality of real-life cold cases, like the ones we see dramatised in the ITV show.
Detective Inspector Rich Stott, who now leads the investigation, said: "The Real Unforgotten will provide a wide audience with a comprehensive look at this unprecedented investigation, the breakthroughs that eventually led to new leads and the challenges we faced when reviewing a case that was over four decades old.
"The documentary highlights key moments taking us up to the trial of Allen Morgan in 2024, such as the re-interviewing of historic witnesses from the original investigation, which played a crucial role in reviving the case.
"Our aim in working on this programme is to raise awareness about the importance of solving cold cases and the profound human stories behind them – it shows that no matter how much time has passed, we will always seek justice for victims like Carol and we will always look for opportunities to investigate unsolved murders."
What happened to Carol Morgan?
On 13 August 1981, Allen Morgan rang police from his convenience store in Linslade, Bedfordshire, after finding his wife Carol dead in the store. At the time of Carol’s death, there wasn't enough evidence to charge anyone in connection with the case. Allen had an alibi for the evening she died and wasn't considered a suspect for her murder.
However, the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit reviewed and revived the investigation in 2019, determined to find out what happened and serve justice. On 19th June 2024, Allen, who it turned out was having an affair at the time of the murder, was convicted of conspiracy to murder his then-wife.
He was found guilty of hiring a killer to murder Carol in the storeroom of their shop, while he took their children to the cinema. He was sentenced to life imprisonment - but scarily, the actual killer remains at large.
How can I watch The Real Unforgotten?
The first episode of The Real Unforgotten will air on Tuesday 18th February at 9pm on ITV1 & ITVX, with both episodes dropping on ITVX. The second episode will air on ITV1 on 25th February.
