To think that today's news offers a glimmer of hope

[boringnickname]

here that Madeleine could still be alive. I have always thought the worse but this being bought up again now seems to be quite out of the blue and i can't help but hope.

I know its bad form, but i just wanted to share the glimmer

There's no proof she's dead (arguably anyway) and no proof she's alive, either

It's just another non story trotted out in the hope of selling some more papers. I don't like the press. They're transparent bastards and people still fall for it and buy this shit.

This story will have very little, if any impact on the family or on Madeleine I would imagine

Sorry, that was rather a rude post

but gloves off wrt those newspapers, imo

I can't imagine what it must be like to have a family member go missing like that and never know what happened to them.

But I think all these headlines achieve absolutely nothing apart from to re-ignite speculation. The only thing that is likely to come out of a police investigation is possibly that they may discover who was responsible.

I think all the "madeleine may still be alive" headlines are horrible, actually. They are designed to play on peoples' emotions, yet the reality of what would happen if she genuinely were still alive and were to be found is not something I would want to contemplate, actually.

I think I agree with you wannaBe

Yeah, course her parents will want her back.... I was wondering how Madeleine would cope. She has maybe forgotten she was taken. If alive and well she maybe doesn't even speak English. Another awful situation. But at the same time, amazing.

The mcanns worked on that photo too, they clearly want us all to see how she may look now. Holiday season approaching. There will now be many more 'sightings' on the back of this latest photo

she would be unlikely to remember.

And if she is still alive then the reasons why she is still alive (if the perceived reasons for abduction are to be believed) are not something I would want to contemplate wrt my child.

There is no happy ever after, the only thing that one can surely hope for is closure.

Totally agree with wannaBe

I don't think this offers new hope particularly OP...but it does sell newspapers.

Having said that, if she were my DD I would never want the media to stop talking about her.

I always think of her around this time. She would be almost exactly the same age as DS2.

Poor baby :(

I personally think the main reason people want to believe the parents are guilty is because it's actually the least worst case scenario.

Assuming they're innocent, the torture they must go through every single second of their lives is beyond comprehension f;or any other mother.

Whatever the thoughts regarding her Parents are, would anybody stop employing any means possible if they thought it may bring some hope/possibility of finding their missing child?.

It's a distressing story....but it does jog our memory, and also, it's a timely reminder about holidaying with small children. So sad.

I worry for the twins. Hope they don't see the headlines and new photo

It doesnt offer any hope or remove it. It is just an age progressed picture.

She is unlikely to be alive. Though obviously it would be great if she was found to be alive and as well as could be expected given the separation from the parents and family.

Did tonights tv programme give any hint of the way the police are leaning with the review?

It must be the not knowing though, right? Even if you think you might have come to terms with the possibility she was killed, and to find out she was is devastating all over again...that has to be better than the torture of a lifetime of never knowing what happened to your daughter, no matter how terrible.

I don't know. I always remember reading The Vanishing, and the guy spent years just wanting to know what happened to his girlfriend. It was the not knowing that destroyed him in the end, not the knowledge she was dead. I just don't know. Didn't the Brady/Hindley duo inflict a lifetime of torture on the poor mother who's son they refused to ever give details of?

It's so sad, just so sad whatever way you slice it.

Hopefully the investigation will come to some sort of conclusion, and a better sense of what happened.

I'm grateful to be reminded. I can't imagine the pain that the parents must experience, and the annual reminder puts them back in my prayers, and makes me hug my own children tight.

i always think of katrina lee at the same time tbh. used to think about daniel morcambe too. bloody nightmare cases.

She's 2 weeks younger than my DD, so I found it very painful at the time and am still full of sympathy for her family.

I've read bettybat that families with missing, especially over long periods, are often relived when bodies are found. It means the not knowing is over and grieving can start.

People/children are sometimes found, sometimes alive, sometimes safe, but it very rare.

I can understand why the parents can't stop and want to generate publicity but it not really new news.

I don't think anyone is saying as a parent they should ever stop wondering what happened, are they? Ben Needham's mum appears on various television programmes from time to time, and she still believes her ds is alive and she will see him again one day.

It must be a dreadful 'life' for Madeleines parents. The not knowing must be absolute hell. It just doesn't bare thinking about.

Oh I hope so much that lovely little Madeleine is found alive and well, wouldn't that be a wonderful day.

I would be so happy and relieved for the Mccanns if this happened. Keeping everything crossed for them, and yes op, I see a glimmer of hope too.

I watched the programme and it didn't offer any new evidence, just that they were looking at the original investigation. Not helpful for anyone, but I suppose if it keeps the story in the headlines on the off chance.

Poor parents.

It is the worst thing in the world. Keith Bennet's mother still waits after 50 years to know what happened.....It is cruel to plaster the UK papers with this stuff imho. I know they want to try everything, and I would too, but....

I personally think the main reason people want to believe the parents are guilty is because it's actually the least worst case scenario

And statistically one of the most likely....

It would be a total miracle if she were found alive and well.

If it were my DD I'd never stop fighting to find her and I'd want her in the paper as much as possible in an attempt to make that happen, that's all I know.