Who was the mystery couple?

[Carana]

I have always found that a bit strange.  You are on holiday in Portugal and your child goes missing.  Why on earth would you immediately want to contact the media in LONDON?

Why do you state London?

Phone calls or emails can reach most parts of the world these days.

[John]

Why do you state London?

Phone calls or emails can reach most parts of the world these days.

Isn't that where the BBC and Sky News have their headquarters?

[Carana]

Isn't that where the BBC and Sky News have their headquarters?

The BBC chap that got wind of it via whoever it was (Rachel?) ringing his wife was in Scotland covering the election.

[Carana]

Overcomes a language barrier.  "BBC"  Is Crimewatch a BBC program?  Yes it is.  This in itself could be significant.  There was someone there at PDL who worked for the BBC.

There was? That doesn't ring any bells.

[slartibartfast]

The BBC chap that got wind of it via whoever it was (Rachel?) ringing his wife was in Scotland covering the election.

In which labour did badly...

[Robittybob1]

How would that "someone else" have known that the children were unattended unless Madeleine had ventured outside?

After Tuesday night with Madeleine crying for an hour and a quarter I think a few more people were aware that the McCann kids were on their own. Didn't Mrs Fenn ring Silvia Batista after that episode?
You also asked about the mystery couple - you'll remember them.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/400796/Mystery-couple-seen-going-into-McCanns-flat-on-night-before-sobbing-Madeleine-disappeared

"Mystery couple seen going into McCanns’ flat on night before sobbing Madeleine disappeared"

The interesting thing is that we know that they had been observed.  Who could have seen this?

[Robittybob1]

There was? That doesn't ring any bells.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY_BRIGET.htm
"During the evening of Wednesday 31 October 2007, Jeremy and Bridget were visited at their home address by DC 1756 and DC 4356 from the Leicestershire Op Task team. This visit was organized to attempt to gain background information in relation to the McCann's and members of their group whilst on holiday in the Prai Da Luz resort.

Contact was made as result of their previous interaction with the OP Task Team and their willingness to discuss their relationship with the group.

Both Jeremy and Bridget work within the television production industry producing documentary programmes. Bridget previously worked alongside the Police on the Crime Watch television programme and was aware of the importance for the need of collating background information.

[Carana]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY_BRIGET.htm
"During the evening of Wednesday 31 October 2007, Jeremy and Bridget were visited at their home address by DC 1756 and DC 4356 from the Leicestershire Op Task team. This visit was organized to attempt to gain background information in relation to the McCann's and members of their group whilst on holiday in the Prai Da Luz resort.

Contact was made as result of their previous interaction with the OP Task Team and their willingness to discuss their relationship with the group.

Both Jeremy and Bridget work within the television production industry producing documentary programmes. Bridget previously worked alongside the Police on the Crime Watch television programme and was aware of the importance for the need of collating background information.

Well done, Rob, I'd forgotten about Bridget. But she doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with them prior to the disappearance.

[Carana]

After Tuesday night with Madeleine crying for an hour and a quarter I think a few more people were aware that the McCann kids were on their own. Didn't Mrs Fenn ring Silvia Batista after that episode?
You also asked about the mystery couple - you'll remember them.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/400796/Mystery-couple-seen-going-into-McCanns-flat-on-night-before-sobbing-Madeleine-disappeared

"Mystery couple seen going into McCanns’ flat on night before sobbing Madeleine disappeared"

The interesting thing is that we know that they had been observed.  Who could have seen this?

The article doesn't actually develop anything about this so-called mystery couple seen going into 5A, unless I've missed something.

[Robittybob1]

Well done, Rob, I'd forgotten about Bridget. But she doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with them prior to the disappearance.

I always get confused with pronouns so are you saying  "But [Bridget] doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with [the McCanns] prior to the disappearance"?

This is one reference to the interaction between the Tapas 9 and the Wilkins couple. "Jeremy and Bridget had visited the Tapas bar on several occasions during which they noticed the group had reserved a table for every night of their holiday. This appeared to be contrary to the set down procedure of not booking a table any further than three days ahead. The group appeared boisterous but good natured with Gerry being the central figure. His gregarious character making him appear to be the central figure in the group and almost holding court. However they did notice that David Payne was equally gregarious and almost playing along with, if not up to, Gerry.

Jeremy and Bridget became aware that although the McCanns had taken up the use of the creche facility during the day, they had not done so for the evening hours and had left the children in the apartment but were checking on them regularly and that other members of the group appeared to be doing the same.
They expressed surprise over this as the McCanns apartment was set in a location that appeared vulnerable. They were aware that the apartment was a corner building and with easy access from the road. The apartments were not very secure and entry could easily be gained." http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY_BRIGET.htm

How did they get to know so much?

[Carana]

I always get confused with pronouns so are you saying  "But [Bridget] doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with [the McCanns] prior to the disappearance"?

This is one reference to the interaction between the Tapas 9 and the Wilkins couple. "Jeremy and Bridget had visited the Tapas bar on several occasions during which they noticed the group had reserved a table for every night of their holiday. This appeared to be contrary to the set down procedure of not booking a table any further than three days ahead. The group appeared boisterous but good natured with Gerry being the central figure. His gregarious character making him appear to be the central figure in the group and almost holding court. However they did notice that David Payne was equally gregarious and almost playing along with, if not up to, Gerry.

Jeremy and Bridget became aware that although the McCanns had taken up the use of the creche facility during the day, they had not done so for the evening hours and had left the children in the apartment but were checking on them regularly and that other members of the group appeared to be doing the same.
They expressed surprise over this as the McCanns apartment was set in a location that appeared vulnerable. They were aware that the apartment was a corner building and with easy access from the road. The apartments were not very secure and entry could easily be gained." http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/JEREMY_BRIGET.htm

Yes, sorry. I meant "[Bridget] doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with [the McCanns] prior to the disappearance".

[Miss Taken Identity]

I have always found that a bit strange.  You are on holiday in Portugal and your child goes missing.  Why on earth would you immediately want to contact the media in LONDON?

Attention seeking? big new story... child abducted via .... jemmied window parents sitting like in the garden ...

It was being claimed by the parents they wanted something done because the Police on Portugal were doing 'nothing' according to sisters .aunties and grandparents... Yeah no one was searching for the little girl apparently. and they wonder why  many people in PDL don't like them... pfft

[Robittybob1]

Yes, sorry. I meant "[Bridget] doesn't seem to have had any direct contact with [the McCanns] prior to the disappearance".

The are better descriptions of the interaction, but they might not be official statements.

[misty]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/dec/14/ukcrime.madeleinemccann

In the evenings, babysitting at the resort was a dilemma. "Sit-in" babysitters were available but were expensive and in demand, and Mark Warner blurb advised us to book well in advance. The other option was the babysitting service at the kiddie club, which was a 10-minute walk from the apartment. The children would watch a cartoon together and then be put to bed. You would then wake them, carry them back and put them to bed again in the apartment. After taking our children to dinner a couple of times, we decided on the Wednesday night to try the service at the club.

We had booked a table for two at Tapas and were placed next to the Doctors' regular table. One by one, they started to arrive. The men came first. Gerry McCann started chatting across to Jes about tennis. Gerry was outgoing, a wisecracker, but considerate and kind, and he invited us to join them. We discussed the children. He told us they were leaving theirs sleeping in the apartments. While they chatted on, I ruminated on the pros and cons of this. I admired them, in a way, for not being paranoid parents, but I decided that our apartment was too far off even to contemplate it. Our baby was too young and I would worry about them waking up.

My phone rang as our food arrived; our baby had woken up. I walked the round trip to collect him from the kiddie club, then back to the restaurant. He kept crying and eventually we left our meal unfinished and walked back again to the club to fetch our sleeping daughter. Jes carried her home in a blanket. The next night we stayed in. It was Thursday, May 3.
=====================================================================

Maybe someone else in the Tapas that night also overheard the conversation about the child checks.

[Robittybob1]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/dec/14/ukcrime.madeleinemccann

In the evenings, babysitting at the resort was a dilemma. "Sit-in" babysitters were available but were expensive and in demand, and Mark Warner blurb advised us to book well in advance. The other option was the babysitting service at the kiddie club, which was a 10-minute walk from the apartment. The children would watch a cartoon together and then be put to bed. You would then wake them, carry them back and put them to bed again in the apartment. After taking our children to dinner a couple of times, we decided on the Wednesday night to try the service at the club.

We had booked a table for two at Tapas and were placed next to the Doctors' regular table. One by one, they started to arrive. The men came first. Gerry McCann started chatting across to Jes about tennis. Gerry was outgoing, a wisecracker, but considerate and kind, and he invited us to join them. We discussed the children. He told us they were leaving theirs sleeping in the apartments. While they chatted on, I ruminated on the [ censored word ] and cons of this. I admired them, in a way, for not being paranoid parents, but I decided that our apartment was too far off even to contemplate it. Our baby was too young and I would worry about them waking up.

My phone rang as our food arrived; our baby had woken up. I walked the round trip to collect him from the kiddie club, then back to the restaurant. He kept crying and eventually we left our meal unfinished and walked back again to the club to fetch our sleeping daughter. Jes carried her home in a blanket. The next night we stayed in. It was Thursday, May 3.
=====================================================================

Maybe someone else in the Tapas that night also overheard the conversation about the child checks.

She makes it sound like it wasn't much of a good night out. 
"The next night we stayed in."  But that is not technically true for Jez went walkabout from around 8:30 until 9:30.  While Jez is out Bridget has no one to confirm her alibi.  Could she have snuck out of the apartment for a moment or two?  She was obviously contemplating it IMO, for when you say "I decided that our apartment was too far off even to contemplate it. Our baby was too young and I would worry about them waking up", you have contemplated it.