Chloe Ayling faced a terrifying ordeal in 2017 when she was kidnapped, and now her story is being retold in a new factual drama series on BBC Three.
“Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story” is a six-part series penned by Georgia Lester from “Killing Eve,” which is based on thorough research, interviews, legal proceedings, and Ayling’s own book, “Kidnapped.”
The drama delves into the details of the kidnapping and the subsequent media frenzy, where doubts were raised about Ayling’s account.
At the time of her abduction, Ayling was 20 years old and had started her modelling career at 18. She was tricked by Lukasz Herba from London to Milan under the guise of a photoshoot, but instead, he drugged her and transported her to a remote farmhouse in a bag.
Herba threatened to sell her online if a ransom of $300,000 (£230,000) was not paid, as reported by BBC News. After six days, he released her to the British consulate in Milan.
Upon her return to the UK, Ayling faced criticism for her behaviour, with accusations of posing for the cameras and smiling. Some even questioned the authenticity of her abduction.
Despite Herba being sentenced to 16 years and nine months for the kidnapping, doubts persisted. Ayling later wrote a book detailing her experience and collaborated with Georgia Lester on the BBC Three drama.
Presently, Chloe Ayling has become a public figure with over 200,000 followers on Instagram. She continues her modelling career and regularly shares content on social media platforms.
In a recent interview with BBC Breakfast, Ayling expressed her wellbeing seven years on from the kidnapping, stating, “I’m fine in myself. I’m happy, I’ve moved on.”
She highlighted the importance of having her story told accurately through the drama series to counteract the negativity and misconceptions that surrounded her experience.
“Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story” is set to air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, providing a visual representation of the complex events she endured.
