Netflix will release Hunting Gary Glitter, a three-part investigative docuseries detailing the crimes and global flight of the disgraced 1970s glam rock star, on October 14. The series examines the pursuit of Paul Francis Gadd, known professionally as Gary Glitter, by journalists and police investigators who worked to expose his history of child sexual abuse.
Global Pursuit of Paul Francis Gadd
The docuseries tracks the efforts of dogged journalists and law enforcement to locate Gadd as he fled across international borders to avoid prosecution. According to Deadline, the series charts his movements through Cuba, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The production, coming from Voltage TV and produced by Sam Starbuck and Sanjay Singhal, focuses on the gap between Glitter’s chart-topping fame and the abuse he concealed for decades.
Directed by Sebastian Smith, the series utilizes first-person interviews and archival footage. In one clip featured in the trailer, an interviewer asks the musician if being in the public eye eliminates secrets, to which Gadd replies, “Yeah, well, I’ve still got a few secrets,” according to Rolling Stone.
Criminal History and Convictions
Paul Gadd’s legal troubles began publicly in 1999 when he was convicted of possessing child pornography, Rolling Stone reports. His legal history includes several subsequent incarcerations across different jurisdictions:
- 2006: Jailed in Vietnam for the sexual abuse of two girls.
- 2015: Convicted of sexually abusing three additional young girls.
- 2023: Re-incarcerated after a brief period of release on probation.
Despite his current incarceration, new charges continue to emerge. The BBC reports that Gadd was recently charged with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. These alleged crimes occurred between 1978 and 1981, though some victims did not come forward until 2025. Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Bethan David stated that prosecutors established sufficient evidence to bring the case to court in the public interest, per Rolling Stone.
Context of Netflix’s UK True Crime Strategy
Hunting Gary Glitter is the latest addition to Netflix’s catalog of UK-based true crime content. Deadline notes that the streamer previously produced Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, which similarly examined a high-profile British entertainer who used his public status to commit serial sexual abuse.
Glitter’s cultural footprint remained visible even after his downfall; his track “Rock N’ Roll, Part 2” was used in the 2019 film Joker to signal the protagonist’s embrace of his new persona, according to Rolling Stone.
Quick Facts: Hunting Gary Glitter
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 14 |
| Format | Three-part docuseries |
| Director | Sebastian Smith |
| Production Company | Voltage TV |
| Primary Subject | Paul Francis Gadd (Gary Glitter) |
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