The film lifts the lid on one of rock music’s most fascinating revelations - evidence from Freddie Mercury’s most prolific biographer that Freddie fathered a daughter in the 1970s, and that he had a warm and loving relationship with her.  According to this new investigation by Lesley-Ann Jones, Freddie kept private journals and notebooks in which he recorded his life story and innermost thoughts, throughout a close 14-year father/daughter relationship, until just before his untimely demise in 1991.   

Jones, who has had complete access to the journals and extensive contact with the woman understood to be Freddie’s daughter, and referred to as “B” in order to protect her privacy, reveals her own story and a new, very personal take on Freddie’s life: from his early childhood in Zanzibar, via his global rock superstar fame, until his tragic death. 

The programme has unprecedented access to these journals via Lesley-Ann, who was offered them by “B”, who in turn says that Freddie handed them to her himself.  Lesley-Ann learned of their existence when “B” tracked her down and contacted her. The two women developed a friendship over several years, which culminated in “B” granting Lesley-Ann permission to share the contents of the journals, as well as her own memories of Freddie, for a new book entitled Love, Freddie. In it, Jones presents what could be an entirely new understanding of Freddie’s private life and personal struggles. These recollections, according to “B”, will be the first and only time that Freddie’s true life story will have been told by his own flesh and blood.

Guy Davies, Consultant Editor for Commissioning, 5, commented: “This new investigation by Freddie’s most well-known biographer gives new insight into one of the world’s most famous and iconic rock legends.  Freddie the loving father is a side that apparently virtually no-one saw. Over many years, Lesley-Ann has become close with “B”, gaining her trust and confidence. This is her story.” 

Ed Taylor, Executive Producer, Honey Bee said: "Freddie Mercury has long been celebrated as a rock icon, but thanks to journalist Lesley-Ann Jones’s extraordinary three-year investigation, this film offers an entirely different perspective – Freddie as a doting father and loving family man. It’s a great privilege to be working with 5 again to bring this new viewpoint to the screen".

Lesley-Ann Jones, journalist and author of Love, Freddie said: “Having spent a quarter of a century researching and writing books about Freddie Mercury, and having covered Queen’s performances on the road, I thought I knew virtually all that there was to know about him. I was wrong. Working with his only child and next of kin over several years to create the book that tells his true story in his and his daughter’s own words has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. I could never have imagined this hidden Freddie. Yet he was real.”

The 1 x 90’ film has been commissioned by Guy Davies, Consultant Editor Commissioning for 5. For Honey Bee, Executive producers are Ed Taylor and Ros Edwards; Producer Suzy Davis and will air later this year, to coincide with the publication of Lesley-Ann Jones’ new book, Love, Freddie.  

Sphere Abacus will handle international distribution.