Viewers of new Nicola Bulley documentary in agreement over ‘disgusting’ reaction

Viewers of the BBC's new documentary on the disappearance of Nicola Bulley have taken to social media to vent about the 'disgusting' reaction people had to the missing person's case.

Nicola, a mum-of-two from Inskip in Lancashire, went missing on 27 January, 2023, after walking her dog in the nearby sleepy village of St Michael's on Wyre.

Walking her dog Willow along the River Wyre while taking part in a video call with her work, that was the last time she was seen alive.

Friends of Nicola Bulley appealing for information during the search to find her (Owen Humphreys / PA Wire)

What came next was an international media storm, with weeks going by and speculation growing while 45-year-old Nicola remained missing.

Tragically, her body was found in the River Wyre several weeks after she went missing. A coroner ruled that she died by drowning in the river after accidentally falling in.

In the new BBC documentary, called The Search for Nicola Bulley, her family and loved ones sit down in front of the cameras to explain what they went through during this saga, and to share how they really feel about her missing person's case and the reaction to it.

In the documentary, the last text Nicola sent is revealed which shows she was planning for the future.

Nicola's partner, Paul Ansell, during the search for her (PA Wire / PA Images)

The show also touches on the vast array of conspiracy theories directed towards Nicola's family, with those on social media making a number of baseless claims about her disappearance.

Speaking to the BBC, her partner Paul Ansell said it was still 'emotionally draining' to speak about.

Paul said: "The nights were the hardest... because in the morning, the hope would be strong.

"The girls... the first thing that they do when they come out of school was come over and say 'have we found mummy?'."

Reacting to the emotional toll the case had on Nicola's family, while faceless trolls accused the case of involving foul play, some reacted in unison.

And that was to lambast the amateur detectives who took to social media to act like they knew what was going on, while making baseless accusations.

The BBC documentary explores the emotional toll Nicola Bulley's disappearance, and the subsequent international media storm, had on her family (handout image)

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote: "Watching the Nicola Bulley documentary, what is it with the social media community and their conspiracy theories? The torture they put the husband, her parents and family through, accusing him / them of killing her, harassing them continually. What is the world coming to?"

A second added: "The Search for Nicola Bulley is a brilliant fusion of police procedural with a very relevant exploration of the dangers of the growing armchair detective community on social media."

A third posted: "Watched the Nicola Bulley documentary. Enormous sympathy for that family. Social media is a disgusting beast."

And a fourth concluded: "Watching the Nicola Bulley documentary on BBC One and my conclusion is that social media allows absolutely the worst of humanity to have a disproportionate voice in public. Also the police clearly know what they’re doing."

Flowers left at one sign appealing for information on where Nicola could have been (Danny Lawson / PA Wire)

Nicola's body was found in the River Wyre on 19 February, roughly one mile from where she was last seen by a member of the public.

Doctor James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, said that it was likely that Nicola entered the river at 9.22am when her Fitbit recorded a significant spike in her heart rate.

Dr Adeley said he was unable to determine exactly what caused Nicola to enter the cold water. He said: "On January 27 at around 9.22am Nicola Jane Bulley fell into the River Wyre and died almost immediately."

He stressed there was an 'absence of any evidence' to suggest Nicola had taken her own life. Nicola's GP also gave evidence to confirm there were no signs of being suicidal before she went missing.