Worlds Collide: The Manchester Bombing - when ITV show is on TV ahead of Arena bomb anniversary

The ITV documentary will mark five years since the terorist attack - with new revelations plus emotional contributions from survivors, and families and friends of those killed in the Manchester bombing.

By Jenny Simpson

Published 8th Apr 2022, 12:43 BST

Updated 8th Apr 2022, 16:24 BST

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ITV is to broadcast a two-part special ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bomb.

On 22 May 2017, Salman Abedi detonated a bomb in the foyer of the arena at an Ariana Grande concert - killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more.

ITV says its new documentary bring to light new revelations to help piece together the timeline of that terrible day, as questions continue about what happened that night and if the terrorist attack could have been prevented. The programme will look into the role of MI5 and the emergency service response.

The role of the emergency services that night comes under the spotlight in Worlds Collide Credit: Getty

The role of the emergency services that night comes under the spotlight in Worlds Collide Credit: Getty

The programmes made by Label1, who created award-winning series Hospital, reveal how multiple opportunities to stop the bomber in his tracks were tragically missed.

The film-makers say the epsiodes present the collision of two polar worlds, one of innocent young fans attending a pop concert and the other of a radical Islamic extremist who had grown up just miles away.

CCTV footage of the suicide bomber follows his steps in the days, hours and minutes leading to the attacks, while family and friends of the victims recall their stories and how one night changed their lives forever.

Martyn Hett, who Matyn’s Law is named after Credit: GMP

Martyn Hett, who Matyn’s Law is named after Credit: GMP

Paul Swaine, a friend of Martyn Hett, tells the film-makers: “Martyn would make you feel like you were the only person in the room.

“He cared, he looked after people, he was going to be a friend for life.”

There are also contributions from those who survived the bomb.

Worlds Collide: Manchester Arena bomb survivor Hannah Brown CRedit: Ryan McNamara/ITV

Worlds Collide: Manchester Arena bomb survivor Hannah Brown CRedit: Ryan McNamara/ITV

The second episode relives the final minutes before the Manchester Arena bombing, plus the aftermath of the explosion and the emergency services response, and is told through the accounts of victims and first responders.

It also follows the public inquiry into the bomb, which leads some of the bereaved families to question whether the lives of their loved ones could have been saved.

When is Worlds Collide: The Manchester Bombing on TV?

The programme will be shown in two parts. The first episode will be broadcast on ITV1 at 9pm on Monday 11 April. It lasts an hour.

The second episode will be shown on Thursday 14 April at 9pm.

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