After catching the BBC One documentary on Mohammed Al Fayed, Lorraine Kelly shared her frank reaction with her viewers. The Scottish presenter admitted to being "disturbed" by the experiences shared by numerous ex-employees of Harrods. She was so troubled that she posed the question of how Al Fayed managed to establish connections with the Royal Family amidst the allegations levelled against him behind the scenes.
During her discussion with Royal correspondent Russell Myers on Monday (23 September), the conversation swiftly addressed new assertions emerging from a BBC documentary in which over 20 women came forward. Their accounts included allegations of sexual assault and rape by the billionaire businessman who died last year at the age of 94. Lorraine commented on these accusations, telling Russell that she found the documentary "disturbing" and not an easy programme to digest.
Before welcoming him to the show, Lorraine openly acknowledged: "Very disturbing documentary, I watched that. Not an easy watch but yeah, actually something that we should," reports the Mirror . She also discussed the impact of viewing 'The Crown' and how it contrasts with the allegations, telling Russell: "You can understand why some of these women are coming forward now, watching The Crown and he did come across as a pretty decent guy, you know funny and generous and the portrayal that they are saying is 'he was a monster'.
" Dramatic claims resurfaced in the chilling documentary and podcast 'Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods', detailing how during Fayed's era as owner, the esteemed establishment seemingly turned a blind eye to early allegations. In light of the startling revelations, the Harrods' current proprietors issued heartfelt apologies to those affected, expressing their horror at the past events. Subsequently, there's been a burgeoning tide of additional victims stepping forward.
Lorraine reacted with sheer disbelief, saying on-air: "It's astonishing he managed to get so close to the Royal Family," gaining affirmative nods from Russell. Discussing potential redress for the victims, an impassioned Lorraine blasted: "He's dead now and he can't be called to account but there must have been people around him who were enabling this behaviour for so long." Transitioning to lighter topics, Lorraine, elated, shifted focus to celebrate some "wholesome" news, dissecting Princess Kate's recent comeback appearance post-chemotherapy.
Embracing her new role as a grandmother, she warmly remarked on how heartwarming it is to witness the Duchess of Wales smoothly readjusting back to Royal engagements while stressing the importance of "baby steps", and urging Kate to prioritise her well-being above all duties. Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 from 9am..
