The emotional weight of a national tragedy was felt at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday night as the parents of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar took to the stage to accept the National Television Award for best authored documentary.
Our Girls: The Southport Families, the powerful BBC film that chronicled the harrowing journey of these families following the 2024 tragedy, triumphed in a highly competitive category. The documentary, which provided an unflinching look at the impact of the girls’ murders, had previously moved the nation to tears upon its release late last year.
The atmosphere in the auditorium turned poignant as the families stepped into the spotlight to receive the accolade. Addressing the crowd, Jenni, the mother of seven-year-old Elsie, spoke with profound humility. “We never expected to be stood up here, so I don’t know what to say,” she told the audience. “We know you didn’t vote for us, you voted for our three girls.”
The documentary was widely praised for its sensitive handling of the families’ grief while highlighting the enduring legacies they have built in honor of their daughters. Through personal interviews and previously unseen family footage, the film captured the vibrant joy the three girls brought to their community. It also documented the parents’ efforts to establish lasting tributes, including “Alice’s Wonderdance,” “Bebe’s Hive,” and “Elsie’s Story.”
Viewers were also given an intimate look at the determination of Alice and Elsie’s fathers, Sergio and David. The film followed them as they undertook the physical challenge of the London Marathon to raise vital funds for school projects and a new playground, a space later visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who offered their support to the grieving community.
The victory for Our Girls came during a star-studded evening hosted by Joel Dommett, marking his sixth year at the helm of the ceremony. The category was one of the most difficult of the night, with the BBC production contending against high-profile projects, including Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth, Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, and Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me.
Despite the glamour surrounding the event, the standing ovation for the Southport families served as a sobering reminder of the documentary’s significance. The award is a testament not only to the filmmaking craft involved in telling such a difficult story but, more importantly, to the resilience and grace of the families who chose to share their lives to ensure the memories of Elsie, Bebe, and Alice endure.
Our Girls: The Southport Families is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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