New film to mark Bradford fire tragedy anniversary

A new documentary marking the 40th anniversary of the Bradford City stadium fire, which claimed the lives of 56 people, will be released next year, the BBC has said.

The blaze broke out in one of the wooden stands at the club's Valley Parade ground on 11 May 1985 during a match between Bradford and Lincoln.

The new film, with a working title of Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire, would feature the personal testimonies of those who were there, many of whom would be speaking for the first time, according to the BBC.

Jaimie D’Cruz, executive producer, said because the tragedy was in danger of fading from memory, it was a "privilege and a responsibility" to make the documentary.

It is believed the fire, which caused the deaths of 54 Bradford fans and two Lincoln fans, and which left more than 260 people injured, was caused by a discarded cigarette.

The stand where the fire broke out had been officially condemned and was due to be demolished and replaced with a steel structure.

The creators of the documentary said it would combine "extraordinary access" to the people who survived, as well as family of the bereaved and of the emergency crews who attended the scene.

The aim of the film was to celebrate "community, resilience and collective memory" and the strength of the human spirit in the wake of such devastation, they said.

Simon Young, BBC Head of Commissioning, History, said: “This film gets at the heart of a modern dilemma: in a world where everything is recorded on film, how do we sensitively and commemorate":[]}