BREAKING: Maldon & Tiptree FC documentary shelved following Drewitt-Barlow house raid, ITV confirms

ITV says it will no longer broadcast the documentary series 'Up The Jammers', which was scheduled to air next week. (Credit: Public and Caroline Coastal)

ITV has shelved a documentary series following Maldon and Tiptree FC, after owner Barrie Drewitt-Barlow was reportedly arrested during an investigation into suspected sex trafficking offences.

On Wednesday (May 6), officers from Essex Police's Serious Crime Directorate raided addresses in Danbury, Maldon and Braintree as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.

Today (May 7), regional and national media is reporting one of these properties is the home of multimillionaire Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, co-owner of Maldon and Tiptree FC and one half of 'Britain's first gay dads.'

It has been reported officers "forced entry into the property by knocking through a wooden fence" on Wednesday. They arrested two men, one aged 57 and another aged 32.

Forensic units were spotted at the property in Danbury, as well as in the car park of the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium in Park Drive, Maldon.

ITV has confirmed its fly-on-the-wall documentary, which was due to air next week, will no longer be shown.

Up The Jammers was thought to be ITV's answer to Ryan Reynolds' hit series Welcome to Wrexham, which won eight Emmy awards. (Credit: TwentySix03)

Up The Jammers was set to follow Mr Drewitt-Barlow, who completed a multi-million pound takeover of Maldon and Tiptree FC in February last year, throughout his first full season at the club.

The Jammers, as the club is known by fans, were promoted to the seventh tier of English football last month after a successful 2025-26 season. They also made club history in the FA Cup.

An ITV spokesperson said: "ITV has decided to remove Up The Jammers from the upcoming schedule.

"It will no longer be shown on ITV4 or ITVX as previously advertised."

Essex Police has set up an online portal appealing for information from anyone who may be able to assist the ongoing investigation.

Essex Police has also set up an incident room, which can be contacted on 0800 096 0095 or 0207 1580125 for international callers.

The Drewitt-Barlow Stadium was planned to operate as a polling station for today's Essex County Council elections, but Maldon District Council relocated voting in "a very late change". Ballots were instead cast at the nearby Blackwater Leisure Centre.