'Why I believe I'm Madeleine McCann', woman claiming to be missing Brit reveals all to US talk show host

29 March 2023, 13:50 | Updated: 6 April 2023, 12:19

Julia Wendell on US show Dr Phil (l) and with Dr Fia Johansson (top r). Madeleine McCann (bottom right)
Julia Wendell on US show Dr Phil (l) and with Dr Fia Johansson (top r). Madeleine McCann (bottom right). Picture: social media

By StephenRigley

The woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has opened up to US chat show host Dr Phil about why she believes she is the missing Briton.

Polish woman Julia Wendell insisted it was not a hoax when confronted about her claims by the long-running tv presenter.

Julia told him: "About a year ago I started to make research on the internet because I started to think that maybe I'm the missing child.

"I felt in my life that something is wrong here because my mother didn't hug me, didn't say I love you so it was a little suspicious to me."

She said that she had never bonded with her mother and accused her of not showing “proof” she was indeed her biological parent. A Polish health book that every child has was blank until the age of six, she claimed.

"When I started to think I could be Madeleine, I called to the Polish Embassy, I called to the English Embassy but nobody listened," she said.

It was then that she took to social media to try to get her thoughts heard and quickly racked up one million Instagram followers before her account was deactivated.

Julia Wendell who claims she is Madeleine McCann
Julia Wendell who claims she is Madeleine McCann. Picture: social media
Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in 2007
Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in 2007. Picture: social media

Read More: 'What if I'm someone I don't want around?': Woman who thinks she is Madeleine McCann's telling karaoke message

Read More: Private detective reveals 'small detail' which convinced her woman may be Madeleine McCann

On the show, Julia and Dr Phil looked at certain images of her and the missing child to compare similar traits.

One of the "clues" showed both females having a defect in their iris. Dr Phil discussed this similarity before the graphic placed Julia's image of Madeleine's. Julia then told Dr Phil how hers is "a little faded now".

He also compared the cheeks of the two where the Polish women has said there are similarities.“It’s a dimple, not a birthmark. You think you have a similar dimple?” said Dr Phil

Julia also said her laugh was similar to Madeleine’s because of the way her eyes closed. At times she looked uncomfortable being under the spotlight in front of an audience.

Julia Wendell (r) with Dr Fia Johansson (l)
Julia Wendell (r) with Dr Fia Johansson (l). Picture: social media

Read More: Woman claiming she is Madeleine McCann threatens to sue mother who raised her in Poland

Read More: Madeleine McCann cops set to get £300,000 funding boost but 'eyebrows raised' in time of 'squeezed budgets'

Currently Julia is waiting for the results of DNA tests which it is hoped with solve the mystery of whether she is Madeleine. Facial recognition analysis said it was almost impossible that the two people are the same.

Her Polish parents remain adamant that Julia is their biological child. In a statement, they said: "For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughters, sister, niece, cousin and step niece.

"Threats to our address from Julia, her lies and manipulations, activity on the internet. The interest won’t forget, and it’s obvious that Julia isn’t Maddie. We are devastated at this current situation."

Julia told Dr Phil that if the tests prove that her parents are correct she doesn't want anything to do with her biological mother.

Private detective Dr Fia Johansson, who is also a medium, whisked Julia to California after she received death threats in Poland.

Madeleine vanished during a family holiday to Portugal in 2007.

Scotland Yard cops investigating what happened are set to be given another £300,000 to keep the case going.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Zelensky visits 10 Downing Street for talks with Keir Starmer on Monday

Zelensky warns Putin could launch an attack on NATO 'within five years'

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt arriving at the F1 The Movie premiere in Leicester Square.

'Interview with the Vampire' co-stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise make 'surprise' public reunion after 24 years

The first Brits are arriving in the UK after being evacuated from Israel.

First Brits rescued from Israel touch down at Heathrow Airport as more to arrive in coming days

The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) said professionals are in distress

Stretched mental health services leaving psychiatrists ‘in emotional and ethical distress’

Jobs will be created at warehouses in locations including Hull and Northampton

Amazon’s new UK warehouses to hire thousands as Starmer hails ‘win’ for Britain

Iran has launched an attack on a US military base.

Trump claims Israel and Iran have agreed 'complete and total ceasefire' in wake of Iranian strike on US air base

A Qatar Airways flight from Manchester was forced to divert earlier this evening

UK flight bound for Doha forced to turn back after Iran launches missiles at US air base in Qatar

Sir Keir Starmer will fly to the Hague today for crunch meetings against a backdrop of global volatility in the Middle East and Ukraine.

UK and NATO allies to include 'money spent on tackling small boats' to boost defence spending in bid to appease Trump

The

Thousands raised after family die in motorway crash - daughter, 8, is only survivor

Kate Shemirani, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and former nurse

Daughter of notorious conspiracy theorist died of cancer after 'falling for mother's theories', her brothers say

Emma Raducanu during a practice session during Eastbourne Open, where she is currently competing

Raducanu says Wimbledon 'did amazing job' after stalker tried to buy match tickets

Large fire engulfs the abandoned Hotspur Press mill building near Oxford Road in Central Manchester. Credit Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News

Major fire in Manchester city centre causes serious disruption

Notorious criminal John 'Goldfinger' Palmer was murdered at his home in Brentwood in Essex in 2015. His killer has never been found

Who killed John 'Goldfinger' Palmer? Police make fresh appeal 10 years after his death

An RAF flight has left Israel carrying 63 UK nationals and their dependents, as the UK government begins evacuating British citizens from the country amid ongoing attacks between Iran and Israel.

First RAF flight evacuates 63 Britons from Israel as Lammy confirms one UK national injured in Iran missile attacks

Moment Israel blows up the front gate of Iran's notorious Evin prison

Israel blow's gates of Iran's notorious Evin Prison where many political prisoners are held

The DLR could be heading further south east of the Thames - not just the River Lea

Every railway line extension in London: Sadiq Khan's Thamesmead DLR ambition gets to next stage