Cleo Smith’s parents sign $2 million deal for tell-all interview

The parents of abducted four year old Cleo Smith have reportedly signed a $2 million deal with the Nine network for an exclusive tell-all interview.

The staggering amount is believed to be one of the largest deals in media history and the interview is set to feature on several Nine properties, including 60 Minutes and several newspapers. It is now known if Cleo herself will feature in the interview.

Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick said the network is “honoured” that Cleo Smith’s family chose to share their story with the Nine network.

“From a 60 Minutes story to other opportunities across Nine, we will continue to support Cleo and her family as they go through the court process, and we take our legal obligations around reporting on Cleo’s story extremely seriously,” he said.

The news of the proposed interview comes as Cleo Smith’s parents have reportedly considered changing Cleo’s name to prevent unwanted attention for the four year old, according to The Daily Mail.

News of Cleo’s disappearance and eventual discovery by hardworking police gripped the globe’s attention. Cleo disappeared from her family tent at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, north of Carnarvon, on October 16, police found the four-year-old alive in a locked house in Carnarvon at approximately 1am, November 3, 18 days after she went missing.

Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed in a statement that Cleo was found “alive and well” following her dramatic rescue.

“It’s my privilege to announce that in the early hours of this morning the Western Australia Police Force rescued Cleo Smith,” he said.

“This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.”

A Western Australian man was later charged in relation to the alleged abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith on November 4, 2021. The charges included one count of forcibly taking a child under 16, he will next appear in court on January 24.