Zara McDermott is digging into the harrowing and often misunderstood world of stalking in her new BBC documentary, To Catch a Stalker, now available on BBC iPlayer. The presenter and campaigner aims to shed light on what she calls an “ever-evolving crime,” revealing the terrifying reality faced by victims and challenging the societal norms that can blur the lines between harassment and life-threatening obsession.
“Stalking is a growing crime we’re hearing about more and more,” McDermott stated, explaining her motivation for the powerful new film. “Honestly, some of the stories in the news and online are truly terrifying.”
The documentary takes an unflinching, present-tense look at the lives of stalking victims, moving beyond retrospective accounts to capture the daily fear and psychological torment they endure. This immersive approach was crucial for McDermott. “This is a present, in-the-moment program,” she explained. “Because how else can you fully understand what a victim has to go through on a day-to-day basis without walking in their shoes?”
The film features raw and deeply unsettling testimony from women whose lives have been systematically dismantled by stalkers. In one chilling moment, a victim reveals the extent of her fear, admitting, “I did get to a point where I was going to sleep with a kitchen knife.” Another contributor, speaking about her friend’s ordeal, expresses a stark warning: “He won’t let her go without intervention. He’ll kill her.”
McDermott confronts the unsettling trend of romanticizing stalking behaviors in popular culture. “Stalking can sometimes be glamorized,” she noted. “Stalking behaviors can be glamorized in movies, on TV shows… We need to be better at calling each other out on that behavior, but also identifying it early on. We shouldn’t undermine that behavior; we should see it for what it is.”
One of the most shocking revelations for McDermott during filming was the sheer duration of the trauma. “One of the things that surprised me most about making this documentary was when I found out that on average, people are stalked for 10 years,” she said. “When you imagine that for 10 years, it really hits you that these people’s lives are going to be changed forever.”
The statistics underscore the urgency of the issue. According to the documentary, one in seven people over the age of 16 will experience stalking in their lifetime. For McDermott, this figure transforms the issue from an abstract crime to a deeply personal threat that affects communities everywhere. “Chances are someone you know will experience this,” she stated. “We need to understand how to best support victims and how to create change in our society so that we can try and put a stop to this.”
Throughout the film, McDermott works alongside police and victim support services, exploring the complexities of building a case and the critical importance of safety planning. The documentary doesn’t just present the problem; it actively explores potential solutions and the resources available to those in peril.
Ultimately, McDermott’s film is a tribute to the resilience of the victims who share their stories. She credits them with being the heart of the project. “The women that I film with in this program are so incredibly strong, and they are amazing and brilliant and wonderful,” she said. “This film, this series, wouldn’t be what it is without them and their bravery in sharing their stories. So I have so much to thank them for.”
By putting the victim’s experience front and center, To Catch a Stalker is more than a documentary; it’s a powerful call to action, demanding a greater understanding of a crime that leaves indelible scars.
To Catch a Stalker is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
