Zara McDermottĀ has recalled the terrifying time she almost got arrested inĀ ThailandĀ for filming herĀ BBCĀ documentary,Ā Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise.
The former Love Island star, 28, spoke about the ‘scary’ ordeal at a photo call for the upcoming show, which explores the pros and cons of the destination that has become a popular tourist spot for young Brits.
When she was out filming the show in Thailand, Zara and her crew were threatened with arrest by Bangkok police within hours of arriving.
DespiteĀ BBC crew already getting permission to film in the bars, Zara said: ‘The whole sequence gets cut down. But that was over the span of a few hours of filming there, the tensions were starting to increase with the police.
‘We nearly got arrested because of the filming that we were doing, but, the interesting thing about that is that we’d got all the permissions in advance. We’d been okay to film there.’
‘And the bar owners were definitely, definitely kind of trying to throw their weight around a bit, and wanted us to get out of the area completely. In the end, the bar owners kind of, you know, they won in that sense, and we had to leave’, she added.
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Zara McDermott, 28, has recalled the terrifying time she almost got arrested in Thailand for filming her BBC documentary, Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise
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When she was out filming the show in Thailand, Zara and her crew were threatened with arrest by Bangkok police within hours of arriving
Viewers will see the ‘petrifying’ ordeal unfold in the programme, including a crew member who had an ashtray thrown at them.
Zara added: ‘So that was also a really, really scary moment of not only, you know, us potentially being arrested, but us losing what we were there to do.’
TheĀ StrictlyĀ Come Dancing star has brought a range of thought-provoking and critically acclaimedĀ documentaries to the BBC over the last few years.
The new programme, made by South Shore Productions, looks at whatĀ draws Brits to Thailand – as well as the darker side of the country, including the access to drugs and the sex work industry.
It will kick off in bustling Bangkok before heading to some popular party islands and will feature a lively cast of characters.
Zara’s main aim for the documentary is to discover why thousands of young Brits flock to the exotic location every year.
From backpackers to those who are seeking longer-term roots – the new documentary will unearth the secrets of the vast and varied country.
Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Zara said of the time she spent speaking to sex workers in Thailand: ‘My work in the violence against women space allowed me to have some difficult and emotional conversations with sex workers.
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She spoke about the ‘scary’ ordeal at a photo call for the upcoming show, which explores the pros and cons of the destination which has become a popular tourist spot for young Brits
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Zara’s latest documentary from the BBC will explore the pros and cons of the destination which has become a popular tourist spot for young Brits
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In her new programme, made by South Shore Productions, she will explore the destination which has become a popular tourist spot for young Brits
‘My aim is for these women to feel completely seen and heard, because I truly believe that sharing our stories helps give us women power.
‘I have a huge amount of empathy for the women who are pressured to work in such an unpredictable and at times unsafe industry.’
Ahead of filming, Zara revealed that she was excited to explore a new country: ‘I’m excited to discover a country that so many young people like me are heading to right now.
‘There’s clearly a fascination with the nightlife, parties and stunning beaches – but there seems to be other intriguing reasons people are going to Thailand and staying.’
Seen for the first time since reportedly moving in with her new boyfriend Louis Tomlinson, Zara attended a screening at the Charlotte Street Hotel in London, ahead of the release of the documentary.
She looked stunning for the evening as she arrived wearing a black knitted cardigan, featuring white lining, wrist cuffs and peplum feature.
She posed for snaps at the event alongside BBC Radio 1’s Natalie O’Leary, who hosted a Q&A with Zara at the screening.
It comes after Zara reportedly moved in withĀ One DirectionĀ star Louis just months after going public with their romance.
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Zara has moved in with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson just months after going public with their romance
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Zara split from her boyfriend Sam Thompson earlier this year, before meeting Louis
The couple, who began dating in secret as they worked out their relationship, ‘hard launched’ their union earlier this month when they posed together on Instagram.
The Love Island star and the singer, 33, are reportedly ‘the real deal’ after declaring their love for each other for the world to see underneath the post.
Now they have taken things up a notch, with Zara moving into multi-millionaire Louis’ north London mansion, having moved back into her parents’ house after leaving the Fulham home she shared withĀ Sam Thompson.
Insiders told The Sun: ‘They’re smitten and she has been spending all of her time at his place, she’s pretty much moved in. Zara has even started making her social media videos from there instead of her parents’ [home].
‘She had been back at her family home after her split from her ex… But Louis’s home and her parents’ house are nowhere near each other, so it made sense that she is spending more time at his.
‘They’re in the honeymoon stage and want to be with each other as much as possible when they’re not working. Zara spent loads of time travelling with Louis this summer and now they’re back in the UK she’s using his place as a base a lot of the time.’
The Daily Mail approached Zara and Louis’ representatives for comment at the time.
Sam Thompson, 32, and ZaraĀ parted ways after five years together in December.Ā
Just days after Zara moved out of their Chelsea home and the BBC confirmed that she would be heading toĀ ThailandĀ for the upcoming documentary series.
