The Oprah Show / New Maddie Image (2) *

The Oprah Show - Transcript, 11 May 2009

The Oprah Show - Transcript

11 May 2009

Thanks to Stevo from TruthforMadeleine for translation

Narrator: In their first interview in America, Oprah talks to Madeleine McCann's parents

Oprah: You have been vilified all over the world. What do you want to say about that?

Do you think that someone was watching your family?

Will there come a point when you will say enough?

What life is like now without their daughter.

Do you believe she is still alive?

The new search for Madeleine next.

Oprah Voice Over: Someone, somewhere knows what happened to Madeleine McCann. It's a story that captured the world and terrified parents all over the world. Two years ago, two years ago, little Madeleine vanished on a family vacation in Portugal. She was only 3 years old.

It was the spring of 2007. Kate and Gerry McCann were enjoying a family vacation in Praia da Luz Portugal with their two year old twins Sean and Amelie and 3 year old Madeleine.

Clip - Kate: They were having a great time and the kids and Madeleine in particular was having a ball.

Oprah VO: The McCanns were travelling with several other families and some nights the parents would put their children to bed and meet up at the resort's Tapas restaurant less than 100 yards away. The adults would take turns checking on their children every half hour.

Clip - Gerry: It seemed a fairly natural sort of thing to do was so close so you could actually see the apartment.

Clip - Kate: There was absolutely no way if I had had the slightest inkling that there was a risk involved there that I would have done it.

Oprah - VO: On the fifth night at around 10 o'clock it was Kate's turn to check on the children.

Clip - Kate: It was on the third check which was my check erm that I went erm, and I discovered Madeleine had been taken and I just ran and say not Madeleine not Madeleine not Madeleine and I can just remember saying that over and over and over again.

Oprah: Madeleine was missing and the search was on. The next day her parents Kate and Gerry held their first press conference. It would prove to be the beginning of an international media frenzy.

Clip - Gerry: Please, if you have Madeleine, let her come home to her mummy, daddy, brother and sister.

Oprah - VO: Within hours of that emotional plea. News of the McCann's tragedy traveled around the world.

Various clips...Beckham/Pope etc.

Oprah - VO: After searching tirelessly for four months with few solid leads the McCanns became suspects or what the Portuguese call Arguidos.

Lawyer in Portimão: Kate and Gerry McCann have both been today declared Arguidos.

Oprah - VO: With that stunning news Kate and Gerry decided to leave Portugal - the last place they've seen their daughter Madeleine.

Gerry at EMA: Whilst it's heartbreaking to return to the UK without Madeleine, it does not mean we've given up our search for her. Despite there being so much we'd wish to say we are unable to do so except to say this "we have played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine".

Oprah (Studio): Well Kate and Gerry were officially cleared as suspects in the case of their missing daughter last July and the McCanns are here today for their first interview in the United States. Thank you for joining us.

Kate and Gerry: Thank you.

Oprah: I know this is a really hard time cause it's two years exactly.

Kate: It is, yeah.

Oprah: Uh huh...how are you?

Kate: Erm [sigh] we'll we're still going. Erm, we're working really hard and we have our better days and our not so good days erm but we're persevering and we're pressing on whilst there's hope.

Oprah: Anniversaries harder than other days or about the same?

Kate: I, I cannot believe that two years has passed I mean I cannot believe it's two years since I've seen Madeleine and she's had two years without being with her family where she should be, so from that point of view it's a real significant mark.

Oprah: Do you believe she is still alive?

Gerry: There's absolutely no reason to believe that she's not alive and I think that's the key thing and...

Oprah: Is that wishful thinking, hopeful thinking or is there some part of you that feels it, senses it, or does...just does not want to give up.

Kate: I think it's partly fact in that you know, there's no evidence at all to suggest that Madeleine's come to any harm. Erm, part of me that, you know I do feel she's there, you know that connection is there, now whether that's just because I'm her mother and erm that will always be there that bond I don't know but, I don't feel that she's that far away you know.

Oprah: Well I, you know, I'd read something that said there were times even you know early on after she err went missing that you would say I want I hope that whoever has her gives her her blanket I hope that whoever has her is keeping her warm I hope that whoever has her...

Kate: I mean it's funny, it's you know, I mean as a mum it's things like that you worry about as well you know. Is someone brushing her teeth. Is someone rubbing her tummy when she's not feeling well. You know, it's all those things as a mother you do and you should be doing and...

Oprah: But then do you let yourself go to the worst sometimes?

Kate: I mean I do I think it's natural and you know I know people mean well and they say don't let yourself go there and it's not going to help going there but as, as a mum inevitably there are times when I do and they're the times that I kind of dip down erm obviously I'm going to worry about her constantly you know...

Oprah: I would imagine there have been many times when you have dipped down. In this past two year cycle so much has happened what has been the worst for you were there times when you thought you wouldn't get through it?

Kate: I mean I think nothing is gonna be worse than those early days really. It was horrific, it was awful and I don't believe there can be a greater pain.

Gerry: It's something that you know, no parent should have to go through. It is just the most devastating horrible sensation err fear for your child and your whole existence, your family existence.

Oprah: Yeah, yeah, we'll be right back with Kate and Gerry McCann.

Clips in Rothley: music...

Kate: You know we tried very hard erm to have a baby and err it took many years err until I got pregnant and the day Madeleine was born it was the, the most special day of me life and I did actually believe she was a real gift to us...

...I just can't believe how I you know...after five years of desperately trying to have children to suddenly having three it was great it was just lovely we were just so happy..

...I never had a day where I took my children for granted erm having been through what I'd been through. But you actually forget how precious life is erm until something awful happens and you realise just how perfect our life was.

Music - Gerry/Kate looking solemn.

Kate: You know it's only a couple of years since I've seen her but for someone so young erm I just thought she's quite amazing.

Video from Xmas 2008...happy and you know it...

Kate: It's obviously quite hard thinking about it....sorry. She was just really good company you know just err. She just I mean...she just she's like my little friend sort of all the time...

...the ones that Madeleine has done I just can't pull down to be honest. Yeah it says here "Madeleine Donegal - Easter/2007" and that was erm the April we went to Portugal.

You know I look back and think oh why can't we just rewind the clock and it takes you back to really happy memories you know, things that you really enjoyed and it's just a reminder really of what isn't here anymore.

Oprah: Ooh..that’s hard...it's hard. The McCanns are here today for their first interview in the United States. Well you know you have been vilified all over the world for having dinner with your friends that night and the proximity you know less than a hundred yards away and leaving your children, the twins and Madeleine alone. And I'm sure you have beaten yourself up many times over that. Obviously if you could do it differently you would at this point.

Kate: Absolutely.

Oprah: Yeah, so what do you want to say about that?

Kate: I mean erm as you say I know I can persecute myself everyday about that and I feel awful that we weren't there at that minute and somebody took an opportunity to take Madeleine erm but if there'd been a second where'd I'd had to consider is this ok to do this it just would not have happened, it just would not have...

Oprah: Because this was, you all had done this every night for five nights straight, is what I'd read. So you'd done it every night and never thought err we are endangering our children or maybe we shouldn't do it.

Gerry: I think no we felt very safe and, and a quite a lot of resorts in Europe there is a baby listening service and we were, we were doing that ourselves within the group in actually going in to the apartments.

Oprah: So there's a group of seven friends was it?

Gerry: There was nine adults in total erm and that's what we were doing and really we were just checking to make sure none of the kids were crying.

Oprah: How man, how many children are being checked on there?

Gerry: There were eight.

Oprah: Eight children?

Gerry: Yeah.

Kate: Three, three families.

Gerry: Can I, can I just say I think the worst thing about you know, the fact that many people have blamed us and villified us and and with hindsight you know it was clearly a mistake with hindsight but the worst thing for me about that is there's an abductor out there and that person stole our child and went into an apartment and took a child and he's anonymous and blameless.

Oprah: You believe it was a he?

Gerry: Almost certainly a male, almost certainly.

Oprah: And is that because one of your friends Jane...

Gerry and Kate: Tanner.

Oprah: ...had seen was err explain to me because I had read that she was coming out of her villa at nine fifteen. So let's go back to that night if you don't mind.

Gerry: Yeah.

Oprah: Let's go back to the night. Nine oh-five, you all are at dinner and you made the-the-the check at nine so you're checking every half hour.

Gerry: It was actually nine o'clock while the whole group were in the restaurant and one of our friend's Matt already went up and checked his err daughter and as he came back I went up to check on Madeleine [hesitation] and the twins and I went into the apartment and err really just checking the crying and the door...

Oprah: Checking to see if there was any crying.

Gerry: Yeah that was it and the door was erm open more, I'd, I'd left it just ajar about 5 degrees and we checked them before we left and they were sound asleep.

Oprah: Which door are you talking about?

Gerry: This is the bedroom door, to err their room, the three children were in the same room so I actually stepped into the room and the twins were sound asleep and Madeleine was lying in her bed exactly where she was when I left, Cuddle Cat up beside her head on her blanket and err and I closed the door and went to...

Oprah: And this is about nine-oh-five?

Gerry: Just yeah, so I went outside and I was outside the apartment and I met err one of the other guests and he was coming the other way with his kid and I actually crossed the road to erm to chat to him and we were sort of chatting for about five minutes and during that, Jane went to check on her children and it was at that point she was just passed us going up to the corner and she saw a man carrying a young girl with almo.. she described independently the pyjamas that Madeleine had on and she didn't see the child's face she didn't you know she saw me there she'd seen that I'd just been in the apartment and so she at the time she thought it was something odd but it didn't raise enough alarm bells to challenge the person or anything.

Kate: The child was barefoot and bare armed and he had a quite heavy jacket on so I think it was one of those things that just seemed a little bit odd but obviously it's not until later on that you realise.

Oprah: So this is the sketch of that person that err your friend Jane err remembers seeing but Jane, Jane didn't say anything when she came back to the table, yeah, because she saw you standing there.

Gerry: Yeah yeah.

Oprah: So erm you discovered that Madeleine was missing so you checked it about 9:05 another friend sees this man at 9:15 and you went back to check again at...

Kate: Well actually at 9:30 I stood up to go and check on Madeleine, because it was my turn. And at the same time Matt our friend stood up and we both started walking and he said well I'm going to check on G***e they were the next apartment to us he said "I'll check on Madeleine" and he hesitated a bit and then he said "no, I'll check" so he went to check at half nine came back said fine everything's fine so I then went at 10 o'clock the next check erm...

Oprah: Did he see her in the bed at 9:30?

Kate: No he just went in and listened and there was no crying.

Oprah: So he came back and said everything's fine cause you all everybody's just checking to see if there's crying and there's no crying so everything's fine and so then you went at ten.

Kate: I went at ten and I went into the apartment and there was no crying I stopped and there was no crying. And then I just noticed that the door was quite open.

Oprah: Which door?

Kate: Their bedroom door sorry, and we usually have the door as Gerry said sort of not closed but ajar just so that a little bit of light gets in and it's not too dark in the room so I thought oh Matt must have gone in and left the door open.

Oprah: same thing he thought.

Kate: Yeah, so I thought well I'll just close it over again, and as I went to close it over it slammed shut and I thought and it was like sort of you know a draught had caused it to shut so I turned behind me and I thought are the patio doors open and they were closed and I thought well that's strange so then I opened the door thinking I'll open it ajar a bit again and that was when I kind of looked into the room and when I just looked and it was quite dark and I was just looking and looking at Madeleine's bed and I was thinking is that her that I was looking for why isn't Madeleine there? And then in the end I walked over and thought oh, she's not in bed and then I thought maybe she's wandered through to our bed and that's why the door's open so I went through to our bedroom and she wasn't there and then I kind of see then I'm starting to panic a bit and I ran back into their room and literally as I went back into their room the curtains that were drawn over just "foooosh" flew open and that's when I saw that the shutter was right up and the window was pushed right oper. And that was when I just knew that erm someone had taken her. So I, I mean I ran to the window and I didn't know what I thought was going to see but I ran to the window and then I quickly hmm quickly looked through the wardrobes I had I suppose this temporary thought she was cowering in a wardrobe or something anyway she wasn't there and I just ran out and soon as...

Oprah: was she in a closet, in a closet?

Kate: Yeah just in case, just in case she's hiding or something I don't know and then I just went flying out the backdoor and erm ran to Gerry and just as soon as I saw the table where they were sitting I just started shouting "someone's taken her, Madeleine's gone" you know and erm that's how it all started really but erm [hyperventilates]

Oprah: Why did you feel immediately, I'd heard that you'd said "They've taken her, they've taken her"

Kate: nnnn....I didn't say that I said, said "somebody's taken her Madeleine's gone". Well from the way I found the room it was obvious because a child could not open those shutters and the window.

Oprah: uh huh.

Kate: erm so it was obvious to me.

Gerry: You know when she came back and she she shouted "someone's taken her" and there was just disbelief.

Kate: Taken her that's fine they all jumped up and they were saying if Kate don't worry she's fine, she's fine she'll be there she'll be there and I said she's gone, she's - tak, somebody's taken her you know it was just like...

Gerry: And the way the room was you know.

Kate: It was just like disbelief you know...

Gerry: The way that window was and the shutter up and the window open there was no way Madeleine could have done that err at that age and err it was just terrifying.

Oprah: Madeleine was almost as they said four or sixth birthday will be May 12th erm and recently the McCanns had this age progression done by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children with the hope that the search for their daughter Madeleine will continue. Here's what three year old Madeleine looked like when she disappeared and here is what experts believe that she will look like today. Almost six, on May the 12th is her birthday. We will be right back.

Narrator: Coming up....

Oprah: First of all tell us why you seemed not as emotional.

Rothley sequence

Kate: In the last kind of few hours that I spent with Madeleine were lovely. Erm she was really tired, very very tired, erm after she'd tea, dinner erm we went back to the apartment erm, bathed all the kids, and then we, we sat on the couch and we read some stories and, had a few little treats and we were all cuddled in and it was nice. It was erm it was warm and loving and erm. And I can remember it quite vividly. Mmmh. Yeah I can visualise it as I'm speaking.

End sequence

Oprah: Well two years ago Madeleine McCann vanished while on vacation with her family in Portugal. Her parents Kate and Gerry are here today because they want the world to know they are still searching for their little girl and they believe that someone, somewhere knows something about her, her disappearance. How often do you think about those last moments?

Kate: Quite a lot I mean, they were really special actually it was funny in a way because that night at that time was more significant than previous nights I remember everything I mean she took my engagement ring off and put it on her finger which she she did quite frequently and err...you know I can remember the stories I read you know.

Oprah: What did you read?

Kate: Oh it was one of her favourite stories which is called Mog which is about a cat and, I mean a story we read which seems ironic now but the story we read erm the last story is "when you're happy and you know it".

Oprah: uh huh.

Kate: and err...

Oprah: And so when you came and realised that your daughter was missing and you're in a foreign country at the time you made a decision you know an effort to try to get her picture out to try to err engage the media, is that true?

Gerry: It wasn't [sigh] so much a conscious decision after a few hours erm some of our friends were saying that we'd contact the media, contact the media you know at least Portuguese police were saying no, no media, no media and we were desperate at that point.

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: The overwhelming feeling was like helplessness. Absolute helplessness I mean you're absolutely desperate I mean this is our daughter who you just love beyond words and every second is like hours you know...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: and nothing can happen quick enough...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: so you just want as many people as you can out there looking...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: praying...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: closing borders, you know...

Gerry: I think yeah...

Kate: to try and get her back.

Oprah: I think that's a really powerful statement I never actually, never thought of it that way before but I'm sure other parents who are watching you or anybody who's had a child missing understands what you mean when you say "nothing can happen quick enough".

Kate: And you know Oprah...

Oprah: ...nothing can happen quick enough...

Kate: It was so dark...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: it was dark, erm I've never had such a long night it was dark and you're just praying for the light you know to come up to get out there it's just...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: There's a feeling of utter helplessness as well and erm it's interesting cause although there's been a lot of negative those early days there was just an incredible power that people wanted to help us.

Oprah: yeah in the early days

Gerry: yeah yeah I mean and

Oprah: and then that turned

Gerry: it did yeah

Oprah: Yeah, can we go back to that press conference that was four days afterwards cause there was a press conference that was held err just four days after Madeleine disappeared Kate made another plea to the public for her return, let's watch that.

Press Conference Clip:

Kate: Madeleine is a beautiful, bright, funny, and caring little girl. She is so special. Please, please do not hurt her. Please don't scare her. Please tell us where to find her or pla - put her in a place of safety and let somebody know where she is. We beg you to let Madeleine come home.

Oprah: Well the tabloids used that press conference against the McCanns saying that Kate's lack of emotion implied that she was guilty, so, first of all tell us why you seemed err not as emotional.

Kate: I mean there were two aspects really, I'd spent seventy two hours I think crying erm and then suddenly almost feel like a little bit numb it's really hard to describe you know.

Oprah: Yeah so I just want to verify that cause I had read that before the conference a behavioural expert spoke to you.

Kate: certainly in the first week yeah.

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: and they said it's quite important that you don't show any emotion erm because the abductor could get some kind of I don't know some adverse kick out of it and I tell you when someone says to you, you know if you do this or you, you know you get a feeling from them that if you do this it could be detrimental in some way to your daughter.

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: I mean it's huge pressure on you to, to do that I mean the last thing I want obviously is to cause any extra further harm to Madeleine so...

Oprah: do you regret taking that advice?

Kate: No, I mean it was advice that was given with the best intention.

Oprah: yeah.

Kate: and I have to take expert advice you know I mean.

Gerry: Who can judge how you're going to react?

Oprah: right...

Gerry: You know how many people have been in that situation?

Oprah: uh huh...we'll be right back.

Narrator: Coming up.

Oprah: And then there were the hurtful rumours that you accidentally caused her, her death.

Clip: Kate holding Madeleine as a baby.

Oprah: How has your marriage been through all of this because a lot of marriages, a lot of people get pulled apart.

Gerry: Hmmm, I think you know a child abduction I think could destroy any family, there's no doubt about it erm it's, it's one of the most devastating things and then if you look what's happened to us subsequently but we, we've been supported tremendously well.

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together.

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...and obviously we're really united in our goal and our love of Madeleine and Sean and Amelie.

Oprah: Once you were made official suspects, erm what was that moment like for you?

Kate: [sigh] Oh it was err, there were two things really I mean one it was incredibly upsetting cause you know just when you think things can't get any worse but actually it made me very angry erm and I know anger is not a good emotion but, it suddenly dawned on me that they weren't looking for Madeleine. They weren't looking for Madeleine and they weren't looking for the abductor and I just, I just felt so angry on her behalf I thought she just deserves so much more than that and suddenly when that happened and I got angry I just felt strong I just thought I'm going to fight you to the death for Madeleine you know, she needs us to be there and I just, suddenly, I don't know I just kind of got strength from somewhere.

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: I think though that that when the policeman told us they were going to be reinterviewed as arguido I mean it's a slightly odd legal situation, it really means a person of interest to the enquiry it's not really you know that you're being charged you can be declared arguido if you're have to answer questions which may incriminate yourself but I think Kate just turned round and said "what are you trying to do, destroy our family?" you know and you'd already had the biggest insult you could have as a parent and then to be accused or err it was suggested you were involved in your own daughter's disappearance...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...that was pretty bad.

Oprah: And then there were the, the, the hurtful rumours that you drugged Madeleine or that you gave her sedatives that you err accidentally caused her, her death.

Kate: [long pause] I mean we know it's all lies.

Gerry: It's just nonsense you know there's no that people can have theories and that's all it is there's no evidence to support any of that and it's absolute ludicrous you know and it's....

Oprah: Did you understand at first though because in our country I don't know obviously you've heard of the Susan Smith case which was over fifteen years ago woman who stood up.

Gerry: Yeah Kate's....

Oprah: and killed her children...and I think that's what changed the way everybody thought about child abduction particularly in our country after Susan Smith L-I-E-D in public.

Gerry: it's it's...

Oprah: ...and, and it turns out she's the one that put her children in the lake.

Gerry: It was, it was interesting though cause Kate's aunt who lives in Vancouver she was talking about when we'd been accused of having lack of emotion and she, she cited this...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...err woman's case and saying she was screaming and wailing and balling...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...you know and you think you know that doesn't mean anything you know.

Oprah: yeah it doesn't mean anything...

Gerry: but it, it was and it's quite hard you know you can you just deny things and it's like well you know, does a denial change anyone's mind.

Oprah: mmmh...

Gerry: ...and it's quite hard you know once you've been smeared like that it's actually how do you prove, how do you prove a negative.

Kate: How do you prove innocence?

Oprah: Yeah. Her birthday is May 12th.

Kate: [makes tut noise]

Oprah: And will you celebrate that birthday? Will there be an acknowledgement of that birthday?

Kate: We haven't planned anything yet certainly last year we had a party, just close family and we had a birthday cake and Sean and Amelie knew it was Madeleine's birthday and erm sis.

Oprah: Do they remember her?

Kate: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, they're amazing honestly.

Oprah: they're four now, they're four...yeah.

Kate: yeah, yeah...

Gerry: I mean it's hard cause they're older than Madeleine was when she was taken now err but those days when you just when things are really bad and you just want to crawl under a rock and never and just say make it all go away Sean and Amelie will just come out with something like "when Madeleine comes back I'm going to give her this" and they talk about her all the time you know she's, she's a big part of their life now and err and you just think you know if Madeleine walks through the door, if we find Madeleine today for Sean and Amelie it'll, it'll feel like she'd never been away and that it err it when you're really struggling they just give you that energy and drive to, to carry on and, and I suppose it's like one of the things we were saying a lot just now is we can't give up never give up on Madeleine.

Oprah: So when you think of her though do you think of her as her almost four year old self or do you think of her as the photo. Let's show the photo err again of what we believe she would look like today. Do you think of her as being...

Kate: No I mean I think of her as she was really cause that's the Madeleine that we know and that's the Madeleine we have memories of and you know the pictures of when she was nearly four tell a story you know we can relate that picture to our time with Madeleine erm I, I don't actually know this little girl you know erm but...

Oprah: but if she came back....

Kate: Oh yeah...

Oprah: ...you'd be willing to yeah...

Kate: Oh yeah I'd know 'er if she went past me I'd know 'er for sure.

Oprah: We'll be right back.

Rothley Clips:

Sean and Amelie on swing: We're just, we're just, we're just gonna pick some cheese

Kate pushing swing: Getting some cheese on the moon ok

Kate VO: Life has to go on you know if we didn't function then we'd achieve nothing.

Kate to twins: C'mon then I think we need to get ready though.

Kate: If I was so consumed with the, the pain and grief then you know I wouldn't be doing my job as a mother to Sean and Amelie and not for Madeleine you know we still need to find her.

Kate: It's those times that obviously all the emotion comes flooding out and whilst that is important you couldn't do it all the time so yes you know, meals have to be cooked washing has to be done.

Gerry: Bedtime, let's get a story ready

Kate: Sean and Amelie know that we're looking for Madeleine. Now they obviously love their sister very much and for them that's become, that's our job really erm and they know it's ok to be sad

Oprah: How has this affected the way you parent Sean and Amelie? Are you afraid to ever let them out of your sight?

Kate: I think it, it definitely has affected erm I mean it's important I suppose to get the balance I mean they, they have to live, they have to experience life. And there are times when you have to let go a bit...

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: ...for their development.

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: It's hard

Kate: it's difficult

Gerry: yeah...but they also understand now that we're here erm asking people to help us search, for Madeleine and that, you know that image is err, we're looking for a, a six year old girl now.

Oprah: Well I, you know I, I heard you were criticised, vilified for washing the Cuddle Cat that was in her bed what seventy days later err do you still carry the Cuddle Cat, that' the Cuddle Cat

Kate: Yeah I do, it's with me [laughs] Yeah I mean I, I find that quite bizarre really I mean Cuddle Cat always used to get washed you know

Oprah: So seventy days after Madeleine was gone there was a story in the, one of the tabloids about her washing away the DNA from the Cuddle Cat but it had been SEVENTY days.

Oprah: Have you ever come close in a lead. Have you ever come close to thinking that you were close to finding her?

Gerry: [sighs] err...I don't think so really it's, it's, it's hard because you almost don't want to let yourself to go there so I think that in the early days and weeks we used to hear about sightings often through the media and lots of family and other people would get very excited and, and sometimes they had you know, almost no credibility whatsoever and until we have some sort of evidence, you know like photograph or, or something then I think we wouldn't allow ourselves to really think this is it

Oprah: to get hopeful

Gerry: too hopeful, yeah...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...was hopeful but not thinking that you're there. It's happened for other families.

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: You know we, we other people might think you know, they're deluded, you know Madeleine's not it has happened Elizabeth Smart and we've met the Smart. You know there's two ways I think Madeleine'll be found this age progression picture...

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...someone now where Madeleine is around will recognise her and that's why we want the image out there...

Kate: ...a match.

Gerry: as far and as wide so they'll do it or the second thing is we'll identify the abductor and...

Kate: ...or...

Gerry: ...that's key

Kate: ...or somebody knows something because at the end of the day this man is known to somebody you know, he's someone's son, someone's brother, someone's cousin, someone's neighbour, someone's colleague, someone's partner, so he's known to someone and even if these people don't know that he definitely did it they might have a suspicion and it's just I guess it's somehow reaching out to them and saying please come forward you know.

Oprah: We'll be right back.

Snow White video then NCMEC clip:

Ernie Allen: We're currently in our forensic imaging unit err these forensic artists every day are ageing the photographs of long term missing children. Nine hundred children have been recovered successfully.

Ernie: The photo in the centre is the photo we used of Madeleine McCann so this is the photo of Kate McCann on the left at age five or six and the photo on the right is of Gerry McCann at the same age. So what our artist will do is to create a combined image that we believe is representative of what Madeleine looks like today.

Kate [hugs Ernie]: It's nice to see you

Ernie: I really want you to understand circulating the photograph of a child who was not quite four, two years later is not good enough. This is our age progressed image of Madeleine.

Kate: I mean I think it is a reminder of what we've missed out on and particularly you know what Madeleine's missed out on.

Gerry: If that Madeleine walks through the door tomorrow it'll be like she was never been away.

Back in Studio:

Oprah: That was Ernie Allen from the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children. They do amazing work there showing the McCanns what they believe Madeleine erm might look like today. I hear you keep her, Madeleine's room ready for her.

Kate: Yep, no it's all ready and waiting [sigh]..

Oprah: Do you go in the room often?

Kate: I do yeah, I go in about twice a day.

Oprah: Do you talk to her?

Kate: I do usually I mean I, I must admit I tend to open and close the curtains more of an evening and just say hello really, just tell her we'll still going and you know we're going to do everything we can to find her.

Oprah: uh huh...

Oprah: Are the Portuguese Police still looking?

Gerry: Well what's happened is erm the file is officially closed and it, and that was a really difficult period because in Portugal they have a thing called Judicial Secrecy and you're not meant to know what's going on but that was closed last July and then we were given the files on DVD in Portuguese so we have a small err team which is funded from erm Madeleine's Fund and we really hope that people who were in Praia da Luz who might have information and we've asked the local community in Portuguese to come forward and again in combination with a sighting so you know this for us this is a very active search and Kate...

Kate: ...there's no....

Gerry: Kate spends...

Kate: ...there's no law enforcement agency though actively looking for Madeleine I mean obviously you know

Gerry: the onus is on us which you know is pretty frustrating actually

Kate: ...we're driving this

Gerry: ...but as parents you've just got, got to do everything.

Oprah: So have you gone back to work?

Gerry: Yeah I made a decision to go back and for two reasons, one I, I felt it was important that the twins had normality back in their life and erm and me going to work was, was normal and I think almost for selfish reasons I needed to be thinking about something else.

Oprah: Yeah, we'll be right back.

Oprah: Will there come a point when you will say "enough"?

Kate: I mean, I think even if you wanted that and there are days when you just want to get under the duvet or you just want to be in a coma till it's over just to, relieve the pain and get some peace but you can't. I don't think they'll ever get a day if we're still in this situation where we feel we've done everything I, I don't think any parent could, even if you were thinking I need, I need a rest, I need something.

Oprah: Do you think that somebody was watching your family?

Kate: I do now yeah.

Oprah: uh huh...

Oprah: You think somebody was watching you over a period of days or?

Kate: Yeah, which is horrible

Oprah: uh huh...

Kate: I mean it makes you feel sick actually when you think about it

Oprah: What do you want to say to that person?

Gerry: It's not too late to do the right thing you know, they can give her up. They can tell us where she is. They can hand her over, to a priest...or...someone in authority. They can do the right thing.

Kate: Madeleine should be with us. Madeleine should be with her family. She's got a little brother and sister who want her back in her life you know and please you know if you don't want to think about Gerry and I think about Sean and Amelie you know and, bring their big sister back you know.

Oprah: We'll be right back.

Website Ad [www.findmadeleine.com]

Oprah: You recently went back to Portugal...

Gerry: Yeah

Oprah: ...er what was that like for you?

Gerry: It's difficult erm but you know I feel nothing against Praia da Luz or the Algarve as such because child abductions happen all over the world and it's the perpetrator

Oprah: uh huh...

Gerry: ...and we don't know where that person is rather than the apartment or the resort or Portugal

Oprah: ...or the people of the town

Gerry: no, not at all and they were, they were really supportive and

Oprah: and you're right, abductions happen all over the world

Gerry: that's right and I think you know, the best thing for everyone is if we can find Madeleine and who took her

Oprah: uh huh...

Oprah: Thank you so much

Kate: thank you

Oprah: ...for this conversation today...thank you

Gerry: thank you for the opportunity

Oprah: and listen I, it has happened before, it has happened before and so I wish the best for you.

Kate and Gerry: Thank you

Oprah: If you have any information you're watching anywhere around the world go to find Madeleine dot com, find Madeleine dot com

Oprah: Bye everybody

Kate and Gerry: Thank you

Oprah: Thank you.

The McCanns and the New Search for Madeleine, 01 May 2009

The McCanns and the New Search for Madeleine Oprah.com

Friday May 1, 2009

In their first interview in America, Madeleine McCann's parents talk to Oprah.

From The Oprah Winfrey Show

Exclusive: The McCanns and the New Search for Madeleine

McCann's waiting for Madeleine, 01 May 2009

McCann's waiting for Madeleine CNN

Source: HARPOPRODUCTIONS | Added May 1, 2009

Watch Oprah's interview with the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Monday May 4.

The story

(CNN) -- The parents of missing English toddler Madeleine McCann on Friday unveiled a digitally enhanced picture showing what she might look like today if she is still alive.

Madeleine was 3 years old when she disappeared during a family vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 4, 2007. Portuguese police closed the case last July without a resolution.

The picture, which her parents revealed in an interview on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" airing Monday, is a school-style photo showing Madeleine at 6 years old, with a pink headband and shoulder-length hair.

An expert at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created the image using photographs of Madeleine's parents, a spokesman for the center told Guardian.co.uk.

Kate and Gerry McCann also discussed how they're coping with the disappearance of their daughter.

"Child abduction, I think, could destroy any family. There's no doubt about it," Gerry McCann told Winfrey.

"But we've been supported tremendously well and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together. Obviously, we're really united in our goal and our love of Madeleine and Sean and Amelie."

Kate McCann said she keeps Madeleine's room ready for her and admitted to visiting it twice daily, "just [to] say hello... just [to] tell her we're still going ... to do everything we can to find her."

Madeleine vanished from the family's holiday villa at the Portuguese beach resort while her parents dined in a nearby restaurant. The couple have campaigned publicly for information about their daughter's whereabouts since her disappearance.

Madeleine McCann's parents release picture of how she might look now, 01 May 2009

Madeleine McCann's parents release picture of how she might look now Guardian

Image shown on Oprah Winfrey show ahead of television interview with Madeleine McCann's parents

Haroon Siddique

Friday 1 May 2009 16.43 BST

A digitally-enhanced image of how Madeleine McCann might look now, if still alive, was revealed today.

The image was shown on the Oprah Winfrey show ahead of the US talkshow host's interview with Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, which will be broadcast on Monday. Sunday will mark two years since Madeleine went missing while on a family holiday in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, and the couple are hoping for renewed public interest and a breakthrough in the case.

They employed a forensic imaging artist, who used computer technology to produce a photographic impression of how the youngster would have aged since she went missing.

It will be used on posters to be distributed worldwide as part of the couple's continuing search for their daughter.

Although Madeleine would still be five today, the image depicts the child at six years of age as her birthday falls in less than two weeks' time and her parents did not want it to become out-of-date quickly.

The expert, at the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, used photographs of Madeleine's parents at around the same childhood age to produce the "age progression image".

The picture shows a smiling Madeleine, wearing a pink head-band in her fair shoulder-length hair.

The couple believe it is the most realistic image possible of how she might look today, said their spokesman Clarence Mitchell.

"They feel it's important that as many people as possible see Madeleine as she now is, rather than the child of three seen in all of those early photographs," he said.

"This is the child that somebody who is close to Madeleine may spot, rather than the child in those other photos, and Kate and Gerry are incredibly hopeful that this will lead to the phone call that finds Madeleine and brings her home.

"That's why they decided to release it on the Oprah Winfrey show, given the global reach she has.

"It was difficult for Kate to see the image at first, but over time she has got used to it and both Kate and Gerry believe it's the best image possible of what Madeleine may look like now."

'Older' Madeleine image released, 01 May 2009

'Older' Madeleine image released BBC News

Page last updated at 16:44 GMT, Friday, 1 May 2009 17:44 UK

An image of how Madeleine McCann might look now, if still alive, has been released ahead of the second anniversary of her disappearance.

Gerry and Kate McCann are to distribute their daughter's image worldwide as part of their continuing search for Madeleine, who vanished aged three.

The McCanns used a forensic imaging artist to produce a photographic impression of an older Madeleine.

She vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in May 2007.

Her parents believe there is "a very real likelihood" that Madeleine is still alive, and the poster shows her aged nearly six, smiling and with a pink head-band in her fair shoulder-length hair.

Alongside it is the well-known picture of Madeleine taken just before she went missing.

McCann spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "This is the child that somebody who is close to Madeleine may spot, rather than the child in those other photos."

At the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an artist used photographs of Mr and Mrs McCann at around the same childhood age to produce an "age progression image".

The couple believe it is the most realistic picture possible of how she might look today, said Mr Mitchell.

He said it was "difficult" for Mrs McCann see the image at first, but over time she got used to it.

The picture was unveiled on a US TV show on Friday, and in an interview to be broadcast there on Monday Kate McCann admits that there have been times where she has let herself "go to the worst" during her search for Madeleine.

She tells chat show host Oprah Winfrey: "I think it's natural …I know people mean well when they say don't let yourself go there …But as a mom, inevitably there are times when I do. And they're the times that I kind of dip down."

Gerry McCann concedes that cases of child abduction have the potential to destroy marriages.

But he adds: "We've been supported tremendously well and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together."

To deal with the expected world-wide response to the new campaign, the family has hired private detectives and established a telephone hotline.

Anyone who has seen Madeleine is urged to contact their local police force or visit the McCann's Findmadeleine.com website.

The McCann's are said to be "incredibly hopeful" that the new image will spark the phone call that finds Madeleine and brings her home to her family.

What Maddie looks like now, 01 May 2009

What Maddie looks like now The Sun

Shocking ... photo shows what Maddie would like now

By ANTONELLA LAZZERI

Published: Today (01 May 2009)

THIS is Madeleine McCann as her parents believe she would look now at the age of six.

The remarkable age progression photo shows a Maddie who is barely recognisable from the iconic photograph of her which was released shortly after she went missing two years ago.

You need Flash Player 8 or higher to view video content with the ROO Flash Player. Click here to download and install it.

In the new photo, to be shown for the first time ever on America's Oprah Winfrey Show today, Maddie looks like a little girl instead of the slightly chubby-faced four-year-old she was when she went missing.

Her hair neatly tucked behind a red hair band, she has slight dimples and a shy smile on her face. She looks very much like her mother Kate, 41, who cried when she saw the photo for the very first time.

A source close to the McCann's said yesterday: "Kate found it very hard and still does. That girl does not look like the little girl that Kate knew as Madeleine.

Help ... new Maddie poster

"It is something she struggles with. But both Kate and Gerry believe this is what Madeleine at six would look like."

The couple's official spokesman Clarence Mitchell said yesterday: "This is the little girl that people should be looking for. This is what Kate and Gerry believe very much Maddie looks like now.

"They want people to be aware of that and to look at this image and remember it. The photo is part of a new poster which will be put up in the place of the one that has the photo of Maddie as she was.

Realistic

"Kate and Gerry believe that this is the most realistic image of Madeleine as she may look today.

"They want the new image to be distributed as widely as possible as they believe this is the child that anyone who sees Madeleine today will spot, rather than the child in the older pictures."

The photo, which will form part of the Find Madeleine Campaign, has been created by an expert forensic imaging artist based at the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Click here for printable poster

Right click on image and then select Print Picture

The artist used photographs of both Kate and Gerry at around the same childhood age and the latest computer technology to create the new image from their paternal and maternal lines.

Virtually the only thing instantly recognisable about the Maddie in the photo is the distinctive mark in her right eye. Maddie had a defect in her eye which meant the pupil smeared into her iris.

The new photo is published on posters alongside a photograph of Madeleine at age three wearing a red dress. It is one of the most memorable ones of her that was released by her parents shortly after she went missing.

Show ... McCanns with TV star

Mr Mitchell said: "The old photo has become the iconic image as it were of Maddie but Kate and Gerry are very aware that she wouldn't look like that now.

"People need to realise that and look at the new image and take that in. THIS is the girl we are looking for now.

"Kate and Gerry firmly believe she is alive somewhere and ask people please do not give up on their little girl."

The posters will bear the message "Have You Seen This Little Girl?" and "Don't Give Up On Me".

The McCanns believe the new poster may result in the call which will lead to them finding their daughter.

Mr Mitchell said: "They are hoping it will prompt that one single phone call which will lead to her coming home at last."

He added: "Kate and Gerry are issuing this image with the aim of distributing it globally.

"They feel it's important that as many people as possible see Madeleine as she now is, rather than the child of three seen in all of those early photographs.

"That's why they decided to release it on the Oprah Winfrey show, given the global reach she has.

"It was difficult for Kate to see the image at first, but over time she has got used to it and both Kate and Gerry believe it's the best image possible of what Madeleine may look like now."

The new posters urge anyone who has seen Madeleine to contact their local police force immediately, or alternatively call +44 (0)845 838 4699 or visit www.findmadeleine.com

McCanns make Oprah appearance, 01 May 2009

McCanns make Oprah appearance BBC News video

Page last updated at 20:28 GMT, Friday, 1 May 2009 21:28 UK

Kate and Gerry McCann have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and released an image of how their missing daughter Madeleine might look now, ahead of the second anniversary of her disappearance.

Courtesy The Oprah Winfrey Show: "Exclusive - The McCanns and the New Search for Madeleine" will be broadcast on Tuesday 5th May at 8pm on Diva TV.

Kate McCann breaks down in tears in emotional appeal for missing Maddy on Oprah, 01 May 2009

Kate McCann breaks down in tears in emotional appeal for missing Maddy on Oprah Daily Mirror

1/05/2009

Distraught Kate McCann broke down in tears on Oprah as she made a TV appeal for missing daughter Madeleine.

The brave mum and husband Gerry held hands as they filmed the one-hour interview days before the second anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance.

In the one-hour interview, to be aired in the US on Monday, two years and a day after Madeleine vanished on a family holiday in Portugal, Oprah asked Kate and Gerry: "Do you let yourself go to the worst?"

Mrs McCann replied: "I think it's natural. I know people mean well when they say don't let yourself go there, but as a mom, inevitably there are times when I do. And they're the times that I kind of dip down."

The interviewer asked them about their marriage.

Mr McCann said: "Child abduction, I think, could destroy any family. There's no doubt about it.

"It's one of the most devastating things. But we've been supported tremendously well and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together.

"Obviously, we're really united in our goal and our love of Madeleine and Sean and Amelie."

Mrs McCann said she keeps Madeleine's room ready for her return and said she goes in there about twice a day.

"Do you talk to her?" asked Oprah.

Mrs McCann replied: "Just [to] say hello, really. Just [to] tell her we're still going to do everything we can to find her."

Grown-up face her mother doesn't recognise: The technology behind Madeleine McCann's computer-generated image, 01 May 2009

Grown-up face her mother doesn't recognise: The technology behind Madeleine McCann's computer-generated image Daily Mail

By MICHAEL SEAMARK

Last updated at 10:55 PM on 01st May 2009

It's an imperfect combination of art and science, but Kate and Gerry McCann believe this 'age progression image' may be how their daughter looks today.

The picture was drawn up using photographs of Madeleine at three, pictures of her parents around the same age, and computer technology.

U.S. experts from Virginia's National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children created the image, which aims to show Madeleine at the age of six. Her parents are 'happy' with the result.

Age progression pictures are intended to give an idea of how a person may look several years after he or she disappeared.

It is not an exact science, explained Auriole Prince, a British forensic and age progression artist who trained at the FBI academy and has helped police in missing person inquiries, but 'an educated guess'.

She said: 'It is a cross between art and science. You are trying to create an impression of what you think that person will look like today.

'It's a little like piecing together a puzzle.

'You start with a photograph of the missing person, use reference photographs of their parents and siblings and try to create an accurate new image.

'Every face is obviously different but everyone has a unique likeness, that triangle of features, the eyes, the nose and the mouth and how the features sit in relation to one another. People get older but they don't look completely different.

'In the case of a child of Madeleine's age, the changes are sometimes marked. You start to lose that baby look. Everything will be moved on a stage - the bone structure, the nose, the jaw line.

'It is not going to be 100 per cent accurate but that unique likeness remains and hopefully enables people to recognise her still, to make a connection.'

The twins need you more than ever, Kate, 01 May 2009

The twins need you more than ever, Kate Daily Mail

By AMANDA PLATELL

Last updated at 11:02 PM on 01st May 2009

The face may not seem familiar at first. But the teardrop-shaped blemish in the right eye is unmistakable, etched deep into the public consciousness.

It is the distinguishing mark that may — just may — one day reunite Madeleine McCann with her family.

Today, Madeleine would have been. . . is . . . (who knows what tense to use) nearly six years old and her parents have used this second anniversary of her disappearance to release a computer-generated picture showing how their beloved daughter would look today.

It coincides with an extensive interview Gerry and Kate have given for the Oprah Winfrey show, reaffirming their determination to keep hunting for their lost child.

Of course, you can understand the McCanns' need to do everything possible to keep hope alive.

But the price is high. The chat show appearance is a tear-stained encounter in which the McCanns are quizzed in intimate detail about their marriage and their despair — their lives stripped bare for millions of viewers to gawp at.

Oprah's cameras were even invited inside the family's Leicestershire home, spending the day with the couple and their four-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie. Which brings us to a note of caution.

There can be no doubt the McCanns have done all they could to balance the needs of their twins against their determination to find Madeleine. And yet the very nature of the search makes that balance increasingly difficult.

The twins were two years old when Madeleine went missing — young enough to be sheltered from the more intrusive elements of the PR campaign waged by their parents and the accompanying media storm that often, yes, went too far.

Now they are four — old enough to wonder why there is an American TV crew traipsing round their home, why Mummy is crying on the television, why their lives are the focus of global fascination.

Old enough to hear the playground whispers and witness the gaze of curious onlookers. Old enough, perhaps, to feel small twinges of jealousy towards a sibling who still dominates their family life, even though she is not physically present.

No one could deny the McCanns' right and need to search for Madeleine, but there must come a point when they realise they may not be able to save one child, but they can devote themselves to their other two.

As Kate said in the interview, she and Gerry are united in their 'love of Madeleine — and Sean and Amelie'.

One day, agonising as it will be, they may have to choose which of those two loves takes precedence.

Oprah Interviews Madeleine McCann's Parents, 01 May 2009

'Older' Madeleine image released BBC News

01 May 2009