| Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Zachary Bailess |
| Presented by | Zara McDermott |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Naomi Templeton |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 8 September – 10 September 2025 |
Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise is a 2025 BBC Three documentary series directed by Zachary Bailess and hosted by Zara McDermott. [1] [2] The series was released online on 8 September 2025. [3]
The documentary posits Thailand as an increasingly popular destination for young Brits. [4] The series begins in Bangkok, and includes visits to Khaosan Road and Soi Cowboy, and later to the country's islands. Members of the filming team were allegedly nearly arrested by Thai police for filming in Soi Cowboy, known as a red light district. [5]
Interviews include influencers, such as Mike Yu, a young British expatriate described as living a "life of luxury", and Mac, a British YouTuber in Pattaya from the channel Mac TV Travel Learn Inspire. [4] [6] Mac creates YouTube content with his girlfriend named Beverly Hills. [6]
The documentary series was criticized for inaccurate portrayals of Thailand's safety. [3] [7]
On 13 September 2025, influencer Mike Yu issued an apology for appearing in the series on Instagram, stating he was unaware the documentary would focus on the negative aspects of Thailand. [8] Mac also characterized the series as BBC pushing a "woke narrative." [9]