Zara McDermott Nearly Arrested Filming BBC Documentary Thailand

Zara McDermott, while filming her BBC documentary 'Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise,' experienced a frightening encounter with police in Bangkok's red light district despite having official permits to film. Within hours of arriving, tensions escalated as police pressured the crew to stop filming and attempted to confiscate their footage, with one crew member even having an ashtray thrown at them. The bar owners also exerted pressure to remove the crew, ultimately forcing them to leave the area. Zara described the situation as confusing and petrifying, especially given the language barrier and the risk of losing hours of important footage. The documentary explores the darker aspects of Thailand, including its sex work industry and drug culture, highlighting the contradictions within the country. Viewers will witness the ordeal and the challenges Zara and her crew faced while trying to capture the realities behind Thailand's tourist appeal.