The real-life sexual health worker at the centre of BBC drama Three Girls is to appear on First Dates.
Sara Rowbotham worked in the Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team from 2004 to 2014 and it was her job to identify young people that were vulnerable to sex exploitation.
But when she tried to warn authorities of the abuse inflicted on a group of teenage girls she was ignored and eventually sacked.
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Opening up about her emotional time with the girls she helped, she told the cameras: “The story was sensational and tragic and awful and shook the world.
“I’m coming out of a very difficult, dark time. I’m ready to start to live my life again where I haven’t been for such a long time.
“And be able to just have nice times and not be so stressed or worried or anxious of angry. To be carefree.”
In Tuesday night’s show, a preview for Sara’s date was shown. She is heard telling her date that she was a whistleblower and that her story had been adapted into a drama.
Actress Maxine Peake is currently playing Sara’s part which focuses on the stories of some of the 47 that were victims in the gang’s assault.
The sex ring worked to find underage girls that would comply to whatever they needed. They were often plied with alcohol and sometime given money to keep them quiet.
Viewers found the first episode, aired Tuesday 16th May, very distressing.
One started off the conversation on Twitter by posting: “#Three Girls I don’t think I’ve ever watched a programme in such silence. It was difficult to watch.”
It made one feel physically sick.
Another added: “Powerful and incredibly shocking TV #threegirls a lot of people need to be deeply ashamed!”.
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