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Britney Spears: BBC Announces New Documentary On Conservatorship

Lucy Devine

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Britney Spears: BBC Announces New Documentary On Conservatorship

Featured Image Credit: PA

BBC has announced a brand new documentary delving into Britney Spears' conservatorship and the #FreeBritney movement.

Under the working title, Britney, the doc - which will air on BBC Two with journalist Mobeen Azhar at the helm - will seek to uncover the truth behind the conservatorship that Britney Spears has been held under for the last thirteen years.

The doc seeks to uncover the truth behind the conservatorship (Credit: PA)
The doc seeks to uncover the truth behind the conservatorship (Credit: PA)

The film will follow Mobeen - who started filming in autumn last year - as he journeys from Britney's hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana to Los Angeles.

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"Along the way he attends a court hearing, finding himself in the midst of the ongoing battle between Britney's conservatorship team and the passionate fans behind the #FreeBritney movement," BBC explain.

"He speaks to those fighting to free Britney and discovers what that means to them, and meets the people closest to Britney herself to learn more about the person behind the headlines."

Mobeen speaks to those fighting to free Britney (Credit: PA)
Mobeen speaks to those fighting to free Britney (Credit: PA)

Britney has been under her father's conservatorship since 2008, following hospitalisation for her declining mental health.

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While the court initially ruled that the conservatorship was supposed to be temporary, Britney is still under her father's control 13 years later. She's now 39, and has been asking repeatedly for her freedom.

In August 2020, the singer said she no longer wanted her father to be in control of her conservatorship, later asking that he be removed as the co-conservator of her estate in November 2020. She even went as far to say that she would no longer be performing while he was in control of her career.

Britney's dad, James, previously said: "I have and will continue to provide unwavering love and fierce protection against those with self-serving interests and those who seek to harm her or my family."

He later told CNN he was "protecting" his daughter from "those with self-serving interests and those who seek to harm her".

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The ongoing battle was documented further in recent doc, Framing Britney Spears - part of The New York Times Presents docu-series which aired last month and sent shockwaves around social media.

Many viewers were horrified at some of the footage in the doc, including clips of Britney being hounded and chased by the paparazzi shortly after she gave birth to her first son Sean Preston.

Meanwhile, comments made by Justin Timberlake about Britney's virginity - during an interview with Star and Buc Wild in 2002 - left fans "disgusted".

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Added to that, fans were left reeling at a 2003 interview with Diane Sawyer, which saw Britney break down on air.

The doc replayed a clip from the interview, which saw Diane, now 75, show Britney an excerpt from the wife of the governor of Maryland, Kendall Ehrlich.

"Really, if I had an opportunity to shoot Britney Spears, I think I would," Kendall was recorded saying at the time - which left Britney visibly upset. You can read more about that here.

Britney has been under her father's conservatorship since 2008 (Credit: Britney Spears/Instagram)
Britney has been under her father's conservatorship since 2008 (Credit: Britney Spears/Instagram)
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While there's currently no air date for the doc, BBC has said it will air later this spring.

Mobeen explained: "I went to LA in search of the truth of how Britney Spears, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, ended up in a conservatorship.

"I found myself in a world of lawyers, superfans and paparazzi and spent time with many of the people who've had a front row seat in Britney's life. This film taps into the energy of the #FreeBritney movement and questions the industry, fandom and the laws that facilitate conservatorships."

Certainly sounds like a gripping watch.

Topics: BBC, Britney Spears, BBC Two

Lucy Devine
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