Impact Podcasts
DC Thomson
Impact podcasts create narrative investigative podcasts that shine a light on major crimes or scandals in communities covered by DC Thomson brands such as The Courier and The Press and Journal.
New Series: “Who Killed Annalise?”
In 2018, 22-year-old Annalise Johnstone was murdered near a Witch’s grave in Perthshire, Scotland. Nearly seven years later, her case remains unsolved. In Who Killed Annalise?, a new true crime podcast from The Courier, investigative journalist Brendan Duggan reopens the case, speaking with key figures to uncover why justice has never been served.
Impact’s first season, Hunting Mr X, centred on the story of forme...
S3 EP2: My Life by Annalise
Through Annalise’s own personal writings, Investigative Journalist Brendan Duggan uncovers details of her troubled childhood.
He travels to her childhood home to speak with her family. But will they reveal the full story of Annalise’s life before her tragic death?
'Who Killed Annalise?' Episode 2 Teaser
Episode 2 of 'Who Killed Annalise?' will be released Monday February 24 on all major podcast platforms.
To listen to the entire series for free download the Courier App in the link below:
https://courier-newspaper.onelink.me/sLwV/hscl030m
S3 EP1: A Murder in Perthshire
Two hikers stumble upon a body in a wooded area off a country road in Perthshire. Police quickly determine this isn’t the murder scene—Annalise Johnstone was killed elsewhere.
Meanwhile, her brother, Jordan Johnstone, walks into a Dundee police station to report her missing. But detectives sense he’s withholding something.
Who Killed Annalise? Trailer
Introducing “Who Killed Annalise?” a five-part true crime podcast series from The Courier and DC Thomson.
In 2023, Police Scotland claimed they had solved every homicide since 2013. But for the family of Annalise Johnstone, one question remains: Who Killed Annalise?
Annalise Johnstone was killed in the shadow of a witch's grave in 2018. Annalise's brother, Jordan Johnstone, and his girlfriend, Angela Newlands, were charged in connection with her brutal killing—but neither was ever convicted.
The
S2 EP6: The body
25 years have passed since Arlene Fraser went missing and her killer could be out of jail soon. But Arlene's family still don't know where she is.
Arlene's sister explains how she is campaigning for a change in the law to ensure Arlene's killer can never leave jail - unless he says where her body is buried.
S2 EP5: Released
As doubts emerge about some of the evidence used to jail the killer, the courts are left with no choice but to let him go.
As he returns home, all hell breaks loose, with bar brawls and bouncers getting between warring factions.
Will Arlene’s killer ever be brought to justice?
Episode 6 will be released on Monday, December 11.
Q & A with host Dale Haslam
Investigative journalist Dale Haslam, who spoke to Arlene's friends, family, and those who brought her killer to justice, answers your questions about the case.
Read all the questions and answers here.
S2 EP4: The lipreader
Frustrated by a lack of progress, detectives turn to a lipreader in an attempt to build evidence - and strike gold.
It is enough to build a case against a key suspect, convince his friends to testify against him - all leading up to a dramatic court showdown.
Episode 5 will be released on Monday, December 4.
Trailer: Vanished
Introducing Vanished: A new 6-part true crime podcast series from Impact Podcasts and the DC Thomson title The Press and Journal.
S2 EP1: Arlene
How does someone just vanish?
In 1998, Arlene suddenly disappears from her home in the north-east of Scotland - and she was previously known to police as a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, Nat Fraser.
Investigative journalist Dale Haslam travels to Elgin to investigate.
S2 EP2: The ’concerned’ husband
A crack team of detectives arrives in Elgin to investigate Arlene Fraser's disappearance - and they quickly begin to suspect her husband of foul play after a suspicious phone call.
But he tries every trick in the book to the throw police off the scent - and officers are perplexed by his cast-iron alibi.
S2 EP3: Just say nothing
Six months have passed and there is still no clear lead in the case - and Arlene Fraser is still missing.
But a new team of detectives dubbed 'the A team' arrive on the scene and make a breakthrough. Police make a key arrest - and use leverage to launch an undercover operation in a bid to snare a suspect.
Episode 4 will be released on Monday, November 27.
S1 Bonus Ep: The making of Hunting Mr X
In the second of our bonus episodes, we take you behind the scenes of our true crime podcast, Hunting Mr X.
In a revealing conversation, host Brendan Duggan sits down with Impact Investigations reporter Dale Haslam to uncover the extensive work that went into crafting this gripping series.
Get a glimpse into the investigative process and learn about the months of dedication chasing leads and interviews that that brought Hunting Mr X to life.
If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Jul
S1 Bonus Ep: A history of drugs
In the first of two new bonus episodes of Hunting Mr X, we dive even deeper into the UK’s gritty underworld in the 1980s and 1990s.
Host Brendan Duggan is joined by two guests to learn how the criminal industry evolved and the devastating impact of the drug scene on communities during these turbulent times.
Retired detective chief superintendent Neil Leslie is now a lecturer of criminology and policing at Abertay University and Richard Prest is DC Thomson’s head of content development and a form
S1 EP5: Prison Break
It’s not how you thought this story was going to end.
Listen to the epic conclusion to Hunting Mr X and find out where each of our characters ended up after their lives were forever changed by Julian Chisholm.
For more Mr X content, visit www.thecourier.co.uk/ and www.pressandjournal.co.uk/
S1 EP4: The Bright Orange Van
The net closes in on the gang as police and customs officers swoop after weeks of covert surveillance stretching from Spain to Scotland.
Customs investigator Graham Dick races to intercept the huge drugs haul, which is packed in a bright orange van, but gets the surprise of his life.
For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/
Episode 5 coming June 15th
S1 EP3: The Storm
After being put in a car during the middle of the night, on the orders of Julian Chisholm, Chris Howarth and Noel Hawkins eventually find themselves in Gibraltar where they then set off on a journey across the Atlantic to pick up 500kg of cocaine from the Cali Cartel.
They are faced with a battle for survival as the pair try to land the drugs near Ullapool amid a fierce storm.
This is not the end of the story...
Episode 4 releases June 8
Episode 5 releases June 15
For more Mr X content visit www
S1 EP2: Operation Klondyke
From Spain to Ullapool, customs officer Graham Dick and his team keep a watchful eye on the gang’s movements. As they begin to build a case against Julian Chisholm, Graham has a hunch Chisholm, who later became known as Mr X, is planning something big with his criminal associates - including latest recruit, “Crazy” Chris Howarth.
For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/
S1 EP1: Anthrax Island
A young and ambitious diver from the Highland village of Straffpeffer travels to Aberdeen in search of fortune but his sights aren’t just set on oil money. Julian Chisholm forms a gang with the intention of smuggling drugs into Scotland through a once dangerous deserted island.
For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/
Trailer: Hunting Mr X
Introducing Hunting Mr X: A new 5-part true crime podcast series from the DC Thomson titles The Press and Journal and The Courier