Intrigue

Intrigue

BBC Radio 4

'Jaw dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.Word of God: A billionaire family's mission to amass ancient biblical treasures leads to them getting caught up in an international web of looted artefacts, forgeries and criminal networks. Art sleuth Ben Lewis uncovers how the Green family - owners of America's Hobby Lobby craft stores - spent millions racing to gather biblical manuscripts and artefacts. Their unprecedented collecting spree - 40,000 items in just three years - triggers a government investigation and alarms biblical scholars worldwide. When papyrologist Roberta Mazza begins...

Word of God: 2. Roberta Investigates

Word of God: 2. Roberta Investigates

A threatening message leads a papyrologist into the shadowy world of online antiquities trading.On a September morning in 2017, Dr Roberta Mazza opens her WhatsApp to find menacing messages and warnings to "watch her back". How did a respected academic specialising in ancient texts find herself at the crossroads of biblical scholarship and antiquities looting?Through exclusive interviews, investigative journalist Ben Lewis reveals how Dr Mazza's chance discovery at a Vatican exhibition three yea

Feb 19, • 28:53

Word of God: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word

Word of God: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word

In July 2017, Dr Jeff Kloha is preparing to start his dream job as Director of Collections at Washington DC's new Museum of the Bible when he discovers his new employer’s biggest donor has been caught up in a government investigation.The donor, Hobby Lobby, has been ordered to return 3,500 artefacts and pay a $3 million settlement.Through exclusive interviews with museum officials and evangelical scholars, investigative journalist Ben Lewis pieces together the extraordinary story of how the Gree

Feb 12, • 28:58

Introducing... Word of God

Introducing... Word of God

A billionaire family's mission to amass ancient biblical treasures leads to them getting caught up in an international web of looted artefacts, forgeries and criminal networks.Art sleuth Ben Lewis uncovers how the Green family - owners of America's Hobby Lobby craft stores - spent millions racing to gather biblical manuscripts and artefacts. Their unprecedented collecting spree - 40,000 items in just three years - triggers a government investigation and alarms biblical scholars worldwide.When pa

Feb 6, • 3:11

Introducing Extreme: Peak Danger

Introducing Extreme: Peak Danger

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela introduces Extreme: Peak Danger.A mountain of trouble. In August 2008, around 30 climbers took on K2. Over 2 disastrous days, 11 of those people would lose their lives. This is the story of what really happened.Sitting on the border between China and Pakistan, K2 is a perfect pyramid that pierces through the clouds. It looks like a kid’s drawing of a mountain…but this terrifying peak is anything but child’s play.Newlyweds Cecilie Skog and her husband Rolf Bae loved climb

Jan 27, • 4:49

The Reith Lectures 2024: Four Questions About Violence

The Reith Lectures 2024: Four Questions About Violence

Anita Anand invites you to listen to forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead’s Reith Lectures about violence. In the series, Dr Adshead addresses the most pertinent questions she has faced in her work with violence perpetrators in secure psychiatric units and prisons.

Dec 20, 2024 • 7:06

Introducing The Lucan Obsession

Introducing The Lucan Obsession

Alex von Tunzelmann introduces a new series for The History Podcast

Oct 29, 2024 • 2:45

Worse than Murder: 7. The Grand Finale

Worse than Murder: 7. The Grand Finale

More than half a century after Muriel McKay's abduction and murder, her body has never been found. This final episode explores the various theories about Muriel's fate - from a beach burial to a gruesome disposal on the farm. New information emerges, including a shocking claim from Arthur Hosein about Muriel's burial site. The McKay family continues their desperate search for answers, while grappling with the media's relentless interest in the case. Jane MacSorley reflects on the role of the pre

Sep 2, 2024 • 29:20

Worse Than Murder: 6. Death Plus

Worse Than Murder: 6. Death Plus

The trial of Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein for Muriel McKay's murder begins in September 1970. Despite the lack of a body, prosecutors build a strong case using forensic evidence. Nizamodeen makes limited admissions, while Arthur spins wild tales. The brothers are found guilty, but the verdict brings little comfort to the McKay family. For decades, they struggle with unresolved grief and unanswered questions about Muriel's fate. Then, in 2021, Nizamodeen resurfaces in Trinidad, seemingly ready to

Aug 26, 2024 • 28:48

Worse Than Murder: 5. A Sense of Evil

Worse Than Murder: 5. A Sense of Evil

After weeks of dead ends, police finally have a breakthrough in Muriel McKay's kidnapping case. A suspicious blue Volvo leads them to Rooks Farm in rural Hertfordshire. As they raid the property, they find mounting evidence implicating brothers Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein. But there's still no sign of Muriel herself. As detectives interrogate the brothers, a disturbing picture emerges of their backgrounds and possible motives. Meanwhile, the search of the sprawling farmland intensifies. Police

Aug 19, 2024 • 28:17

Worse Than Murder: 4. Paper Flowers

Worse Than Murder: 4. Paper Flowers

After weeks of agonising negotiations, Muriel McKay's kidnapper finally agrees to collect a ransom. The police see their chance to catch M3 and rescue Muriel. They devise an elaborate plan, with undercover officers posing as Muriel's family members, to make the drop. Have they finally out-manoeuvred the elusive M3? Worse Than Murder - A tragic case of mistaken identity that shook Britain and launched a tabloid war. One winter's night in 1969, kidnappers targeting Rupert Murdoch's wife abducted M

Aug 12, 2024 • 28:42

Worse Than Murder: 3. The Waiting Game

Worse Than Murder: 3. The Waiting Game

Muriel McKay’s kidnapper – who calls himself M3 – has stopped calling, and the McKay family are desperate. They use Alick’s media contacts to keep the story at the forefront of the tabloid press, placing rumours designed to make the kidnappers panic, even getting in touch with a clairvoyant via a family friend. But what the press don’t know is that Muriel McKay was kidnapped by mistake. M3’s real target, he says, was Rupert Murdoch’s wife.Worse Than Murder - A tragic case of mistaken identity t

Aug 5, 2024 • 28:34

Worse Than Murder: 2. Alick, Darling

Worse Than Murder: 2. Alick, Darling

The day after Muriel McKay is snatched from her home, the police gather all the physical evidence they can, and tabloid reporters crowd the pavements outside the house, trying to get a piece of the action. Muriel’s family are desperately trying to make sense of calls by a mysterious man, M3, who claims he has Muriel, and that he’ll return her if the family delivers him a £1 million ransom. It’s only when he sends them a letter, in Muriel’s own handwriting, that they know for sure he’s the most c

Jul 29, 2024 • 28:52

Worse Than Murder: 1. Muriel Is Missing

Worse Than Murder: 1. Muriel Is Missing

In December 1969, Alick McKay, an executive at Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited, arrives home to find his wife, Muriel, had vanished without a trace. He calls the police to report her missing, and soon places another call too – this time to the editor of The Sun newspaper, Larry Lamb, a colleague. Lamb’s presence only raises police suspicions - has Muriel really disappeared, or is this just a press set-up, an effort to boost circulation? Then the phone rings. A mysterious man calling himself M3 say

Jul 15, 2024 • 28:41

Introducing... Worse Than Murder

Introducing... Worse Than Murder

Worse Than Murder - A tragic case of mistaken identity that shook Britain and launched a tabloid war.One winter’s night in 1969, kidnappers targeting Rupert Murdoch’s wife abducted Muriel McKay by mistake. She was never seen again. Jane MacSorley investigates this shocking crime which baffled police and, more than 50 years on, remains unresolved.Presented by Jane MacSorley with Simon Farquhar Produced by Nadia Mehdi, with extra production from Paul Russell and Megan Oyinka Sound design and mixin

Jul 12, 2024 • 4:38

To Catch A Scorpion: 9. A Sting In The Tail

To Catch A Scorpion: 9. A Sting In The Tail

Barzan Majeed thought he was safe in Iraq but all that changes following the release of this series. Police and prosecutors in Iraq start their own investigation and before long they announce dramatic developments. For reporter Sue Mitchell, and her colleague, former soldier and aid worker, Rob Lawrie, the news signals possibilities for securing justice for some of those harmed in boat and lorry crossings.This a bonus episode which covers developments following this BBC investigation. In the Kur

Jul 10, 2024 • 31:13

To Catch a Scorpion: Ep 8. The Final Sting

To Catch a Scorpion: Ep 8. The Final Sting

Scorpion has been spotted in Iraq and Sue and Rob head straight there - hoping to find his hiding place and lure him out. Will they finally be able to confront him with his crimes?Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than twenty of his gang and almost netted Scorpio

May 10, 2024 • 40:16

To Catch a Scorpion: 7. Buried Deep

To Catch a Scorpion: 7. Buried Deep

Sue and Rob uncover new evidence linking Scorpion to deaths at sea. They track him to a luxury seaside villa and hear from a woman close to him about the drugs and money he craved.Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than twenty of his gang and almost netted Scorpio

May 10, 2024 • 37:37

To Catch a Scorpion: 6. In Our Grasp

To Catch a Scorpion: 6. In Our Grasp

Word comes that Scorpion has been spotted in Turkey and new leads take the team into the heart of the smuggling network, with dramatic developments as they stake out an address.Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than twenty of his gang and almost netted Scorpion h

May 10, 2024 • 33:18

To Catch a Scorpion: 5. A Scorpion's Nest

To Catch a Scorpion: 5. A Scorpion's Nest

The search takes us deep into Scorpion's gang and the men arrested and imprisoned for people smuggling and then things take an unexpected turn as we find and confront his brother.Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than twenty of his gang and almost netted Scorpion

May 10, 2024 • 37:49

To Catch a Scorpion: 4. Dangerous Meddling

To Catch a Scorpion: 4. Dangerous Meddling

The job of policing smuggling gangs is obstructed by a network of well-wishers who want to help refugees and sometimes end up helping the gangs - has this happened with Scorpion?Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than twenty of his gang and almost netted Scorpion

May 10, 2024 • 35:52

To Catch a Scorpion: 3. Satisfaction Guaranteed

To Catch a Scorpion: 3. Satisfaction Guaranteed

It's already late when the BBC team get a tip off that Scorpion's network of complicit lorry drivers might be operating from a new pick-up point. They stay hidden as events unfold.Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than 20 of his gang and almost netted Scorpion hi

May 3, 2024 • 32:40

To Catch a Scorpion: 2. Trading in People

To Catch a Scorpion: 2. Trading in People

Sue and Rob hear transcripts of police surveillance tapes, broadcast for the first time as officers eavesdrop on calls between members of the Scorpion people smuggling gang. Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance operation trapped more than 20 of his gang and almost netted Scorpion himself,

May 3, 2024 • 30:41

To Catch a Scorpion: 1. Dangerous Journeys

To Catch a Scorpion: 1. Dangerous Journeys

This is the hunt for a people smuggler, codenamed Scorpion, one of the central characters controlling the transport of migrants from the European mainland into the UK. It is a tense and disturbing investigation, recorded as it happened, in real time. Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe.An international police surveillance o

May 3, 2024 • 34:34

Introducing... To Catch A Scorpion

Introducing... To Catch A Scorpion

The dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted people smugglers, recorded as it unfolds.BBC journalist, Sue Mitchell, and ex-soldier and aid worker, Rob Lawrie, go on a search for a crime boss: a people smuggler on the run, whose codename is Scorpion. He is one of the central characters controlling the transport of migrants from the European mainland into the UK.Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal caree

Apr 26, 2024 • 2:57

Welcome to Intrigue

Welcome to Intrigue

‘Jaw-dropping’, ‘gripping’, ‘bingeable,’ ‘thrilling’ – Dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.Catch up on the previous series and be the first to hear about what's coming up.

Apr 16, 2024 • 3:04

Million Dollar Lover: 10. Final Plot

Million Dollar Lover: 10. Final Plot

In this last programme of the series, the community of Cayucos is watching on and wondering how things will develop. Is there a way to handle a situation like this, where homelessness and wealth collide. Where a damaged man and a frail older woman come together to share a life?The unusual romance between Dave and Carolyn captured the attention of the BBC Journalist Sue Mitchell as it was unfolding on her street. She spends a lot of time in California, she married an American and her award-winnin

Dec 21, 2023 • 36:30

Million Dollar Lover: 9. Missing You

Million Dollar Lover: 9. Missing You

With Carolyn’s daughters powerless to act, it looks like Dave might be on the brink of a receiving a small fortune from his 80 year old lover, Carolyn. She has promised to take care of him and says that he is the best thing to happen in her life. Her daughters do not believe she is in her right mind, but they cannot find anyone prepared to help them.It is shaping up for a distressing battle when suddenly events take a turn for the worse.The unusual romance between Dave and Carolyn captured the a

Dec 21, 2023 • 34:31

Million Dollar Lover: 8. Taking Control

Million Dollar Lover: 8. Taking Control

Things are reaching a head as worries grow about Carolyn’s decision to sell two houses, on a single plot. One of the houses is home to her grandson and his family and Carolyn does not appear to be totally sure about her decision. Her daughters are so concerned that they approach the estate agent begging him to stop things.If he does not and the sale goes ahead, Dave could be looking at a sizeable amount of money being transferred into his name. Carolyn’s daughters could be seeing their worst nig

Dec 14, 2023 • 36:08

Million Dollar Lover: 7. Hidden Lives

Million Dollar Lover: 7. Hidden Lives

In the idyllic seaside town of Cayucos, on the Californian coast, property is expensive, a home here can easily cost a million dollars or more. The property boom which has made people of Carolyn’s generation well off, has priced so many out of the market and made it expensive to rent. There is a growing problem with homelessness, a world that Dave knows well. Even now that he is living with Carolyn he has not cut his ties with the homeless and is determined to help when he can.When Dave returns

Dec 14, 2023 • 34:39

Million Dollar Lover: 6. Unforgettable

Million Dollar Lover: 6. Unforgettable

At first glance Carolyn appears to be a lucky woman who has led a charmed life: loved by her husband and daughters – prosperous and secure. But she has endured great hardship and in this episode it becomes a bit easier to understand why she initially felt so drawn to Dave and what he has come to represent in her life.For his part, Dave is reluctant to dwell on his childhood, but he undoubtedly had a difficult start in life. Some of that damage has since been repeated in the lives of his children

Dec 7, 2023 • 36:02

Million Dollar Lover: 5. Family Fortunes

Million Dollar Lover: 5. Family Fortunes

With Carolyn’s encouragement, Dave is making more effort to see his children, including his daughter, Cody. Like her Dad, Cody has struggled with crystal meth addiction and is sometimes sleeping rough in her car as she waits for a place in a recovery unit. She longs for her Dad’s love, but she has been let down by him in the past and cannot really trust that he has changedIn this episode BBC Journalist, Sue Mitchell, goes with Dave to Riverside, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. This is where Dav

Dec 7, 2023 • 38:12

Million Dollar Lover: 4. Rewards of Love

Million Dollar Lover: 4. Rewards of Love

One of the consequences of the family falling out about Dave is that Carolyn has decided to take back control of her bank accounts from her daughter, Sally, who had always helped her Mum in the past. Carolyn’s daughters fear that she will start giving money to Dave and that there is nothing they can do about it. In the early days of the relationship, the daughters had got Carolyn and Dave to sign a legal agreement protecting her money and properties. But now they fear that the pair have effectiv

Nov 30, 2023 • 32:29

Million Dollar Lover: 3. The Fight

Million Dollar Lover: 3. The Fight

Carolyn is facing mounting opposition to her relationship with Dave, who is 23 years younger than her and a world away in terms of wealth and lifestyle. She is being forced to make the most difficult choice possible: between her daughters and her new lover. The situation becomes so heated that it finally erupts into violence.Opposition to Dave makes Carolyn more determined to support him and she decides to take back control of her finances from her daughters. They fear she is showing signs of me

Nov 30, 2023 • 31:35

Million Dollar Lover: 2. A Lady Never Tells

Million Dollar Lover: 2. A Lady Never Tells

Carolyn had not expected to fall in love at 80 and certainly not to someone 23 years younger. But she has embraced all aspects of her new relationship, including having sex and being open with her daughters about that. Her honesty has not gone down well and even her Pastor, Dale James, is shocked that the couple are now living together in this way.Concerned about the speed of the relationship and the direction it's taking, Carolyn's daughters turn to the police and outside agencies for help. The

Nov 23, 2023 • 31:22

Million Dollar Lover: 1. Stranger in Town

Million Dollar Lover: 1. Stranger in Town

Million Dollar Lover is an unlikely love story, recorded in real time as the relationship unfolds between Carolyn, who is 80 and has a valuable property portfolio, and Dave, 57, a former drug addict who is homeless and has spent a decade in jail. The story captured the attention of the BBC Journalist Sue Mitchell, as it was unfolding on her street. She spends a lot of time in California – she married an American and her award-winning journalism has been about the lives of people like Dave who in

Nov 23, 2023 • 29:22

Introducing... Million Dollar Lover

Introducing... Million Dollar Lover

Million Dollar Lover is an unlikely love story, recorded in real time as the relationship unfolds between Carolyn, who is 80 and has properties worth a few million dollars, and Dave, 57, a former drug addict who is homeless and has spent a decade in jail.The story captured the attention of the BBC Journalist Sue Mitchell, as it was unfolding on her street. She spends a lot of time in California – she married an American and her award-winning journalism has been about the lives of people like Dav

Nov 17, 2023 • 3:15

The Immortals: 10. After the Dragon

The Immortals: 10. After the Dragon

The idea of living forever has captivated us for millennia, but rarely do people imagine what would happen the day after the fountain of youth is discovered. Today’s technology entrepreneurs pushing an immortality agenda - through their investments and their influence - seem only focussed on the pursuit.Whether or not immortality is a distant possibility, how do we cope with living longer en route to forever? Where’s the planning for that? It’s a great opportunity for innovative thinkers but, fr

Oct 2, 2023 • 15:05

The Immortals: 9. Nerd Rapture

The Immortals: 9. Nerd Rapture

The immortalist movement in Silicon Valley shares a lot with evangelical religions, says Dr Emile P Torres, a philosopher and former Nick Bostrom acolyte. In both, he explains, there’s a heaven in which the faithful will experience unsurpassed bliss and delight, and an apocalypse, which will separate out the people who can go there. After a decade at the epicentre of the transhumanist research community, Emile became concerned with the number of apocalyptic stories of techno-utopia that were bei

Oct 2, 2023 • 14:38

The Immortals: 8. The Prophet

The Immortals: 8. The Prophet

A new philosphical movement is gathering steam in Silicon Valley, one that promises immortality by using technology to solve the problem of death. This movement is led by Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom. Professor Bostrom is the author of Fable of the Dragon Tyrant, the original manuscript of the modern immortality movement. It was published in 2005 in the Journal of Medical Ethics as a response to what Bostrom described as the absurdity of the inevitability of accepting ageing and death. Far fr

Sep 25, 2023 • 14:57

The Immortals: 7. Vitalik

The Immortals: 7. Vitalik

Vitalek Buterin is the billionaire founder of Ethereum, one of the most successful blockchains and cryptocurrencies in the world. With his fortune, he is attempting to solve the problem of death by creating a longevity state - which will fast track life everlasting, without the need for regulation. They will crowdsource their longevity solutions and organise them through the blockchain. His north star is the Fable of the Dragon Tyrant.In this series, technology reporter and psychologist Aleks Kr

Sep 25, 2023 • 14:47

The Immortals: 6. Longevity Escape Velocity

The Immortals: 6. Longevity Escape Velocity

Many of the longevity innovators in the Valley want to extend human life. But there are others who are trying to eliminate death. A lot of them. The tech billionaires who have never been told ‘no’ are driven to tackle the most insurmountable problems. They believe they can solve death by re-engineering the human in code. Problem is, it’s unlikely to happen in their natural lifetime.But technology is on their side. Every year, computing power doubles. Once a decade, the amount of change produces

Sep 18, 2023 • 14:46

The Immortals: 5. The Trial

The Immortals: 5. The Trial

Loyal for Dogs is one of the companies in the longevity industry doing serious science. They are well-founded, have a killer team, and a very clear mission: to be the first to get a drug that treats ageing - not just the diseases of ageing, but ageing itself - to pass the rigorous Food and Drug Administration approval process.Their CEO, Celine Halioua, is a maverick founder whose life has been guided by her ability to work systems. So, to meet her mission, she’s got a hack that will get her new

Sep 18, 2023 • 14:44

The Immortals: 4. The Hype Cycle

The Immortals: 4. The Hype Cycle

Jesse Karmazin’s Ambrosia Plasma clinic promised the fountain of youth, two litres of young plasma at a time. For a fee, anyone could go to his treatment centre in the redwood forest outside Silicon Valley and receive an infusion. The results - according to Karmazin - were remarkable. Silicon Valley billionaires were rumoured to be queuing up for their young blood. The problem was, the scientists whose work in mice he claimed to be bringing to the people disagreed with what he was doing, and he

Sep 11, 2023 • 15:07

The Immortals: 3. The Plasma Clinic

The Immortals: 3. The Plasma Clinic

The Conboys’ experiment gave a young Harvard medical school graduate a big idea. But, there is a big gap between the experiments they did with mice in the lab, and pumping young blood into human beings.Still, he registered his company, Ambrosia Plasma, on the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials website and began an ambitious human research experiment. For $8,000 in cash, cheque or digital transfer, anyone over the age of 35 could receive two litres of blood plasma from 16-25 year olds i

Sep 11, 2023 • 14:57

The Immortals: 2. The Experiment

The Immortals: 2. The Experiment

Mike and Irina Conboy are a couple of tie-dye clad scientists in the bio-engineering department at the University of Berkeley. When they started researching ageing more than 20 years ago at Stanford, the field was nothing more than a spin-off from geroscience - most of their time at the lab bench was spent documenting signs and signals that our bodies are reaching their ends. But in 2005, they published an article in Science that suggested there is hope for reversing ageing our tired old bodies.

Sep 4, 2023 • 15:06

The Immortals: 1. Dracula

The Immortals: 1. Dracula

Over the last 100 years, we’ve seen global life expectancy double. Could it happen again? Technology reporter and psychologist Aleks Krotoski explores the frontiers of the extreme longevity pioneers. They've made their money in Silicon Valley. And with their technology solutions - PayPal, Facebook, cryptocurrencies - they've ushered in the world that we live in today, with all its unintended consequences. Some of them now want to solve the "problem" of aging, or even death, and they are making b

Sep 4, 2023 • 14:59

Introducing... The Immortals

Introducing... The Immortals

Over the last 100 years, we’ve seen global life expectancy double. Could it happen again? In The Immortals, technology reporter and psychologist Aleks Krotoski explores the frontiers of the extreme longevity pioneers. They've made their money in Silicon Valley. And with their technology solutions they've ushered in the world that we live in today. Some of them now want to solve the problem of aging - or even death itself - and they are making bigger strides than we may think. Can they? Should th

Aug 29, 2023 • 1:59

Burning Sun: 6. The Reckoning

Burning Sun: 6. The Reckoning

The K-pop stars are jailed for their crimes and some women hope this and other sex abuse scandals might finally spark a real social change. Instead, all it does is fan the growing divisions between men and women. Then the gender war goes mainstream and plays out during the recent presidential election.For the first time, we give the definitive account of the sex scandals that brought down some of Korea’s biggest K-pop stars. It’s a tale of depravity, power and excess - hidden behind a facade of

Jul 26, 2023 • 29:19

Burning Sun: 5. An Extreme Decision

Burning Sun: 5. An Extreme Decision

Journalist Kang receives a surprising call from K-pop royalty Goo-Hara, who wants to help her with her investigation, as some of the people in the chatroom were her friends. Goo Hara, like many South Korean women is a victim of digital sex crime. Her very public battle in taking a stand against it, receives enormous coverage into her private life and she is mercilessly trolled. It’s too much for her, and will end in tragedy. For the first time, we give the definitive account of the sex scandals

Jul 24, 2023 • 29:13

Burning Sun: 4. Consent

Burning Sun: 4. Consent

The scandals are making headlines around the world and K-pop fans react. Jung’s superfan watches as one after another K-pop star is arrested. She has had enough and becomes part of a feminist movement for change against spy cam crimes and misogyny. The woman who made the original allegation against Jung says she regrets not pursuing it. She was viciously trolled after her accusation, and she campaigns to make sure this never happens again to another woman who dares to speak out. For the first

Jul 17, 2023 • 28:57

Burning Sun: 3. The Nightclub

Burning Sun: 3. The Nightclub

A rival broadcaster reveals a shocking scandal at the exclusive Burning Sun nightclub, co-owned by Seungri – one of the members of Big Bang, and a global K-pop star. There are disturbing accounts emerging of underground rooms where women are taken, and the police investigate. And Journalist Kang is about to drop a bombshell.For the first time, we give the definitive account of the sex scandals that brought down some of Korea’s biggest K-pop stars. It’s a tale of depravity, power and excess - hid

Jul 10, 2023 • 28:58

Burning Sun: 2. Kakao Talk

Burning Sun: 2. Kakao Talk

Someone is holding popstar Jung’s phone in their hands. And what they see on it is shocking. Another journalist Kang Kyung-Yoon gets a tip-off and starts investigating the chat-rooms, and is overwhelmed by the crimes she sees. Sex videos being shared by well-known celebrities, and in some the women are unconscious and being sexually assaulted. She tracks down some of the victims, and the more she digs, the more she uncovers.For the first time, we give the definitive account of the sex scandals

Jul 3, 2023 • 29:05

Burning Sun: 1. The Phone Call

Burning Sun: 1. The Phone Call

“I had no idea how big it was going to be….”Journalist Park Hyo-sil gets a tip off that music and TV star, Jung Joon-young, is being investigated by police for secretly filming a woman during sex. We find out about Jung, his wholesome, attractive personality and wide popularity. And we meet one of his superfans whose whole life revolves around him. She, like many others, don’t want to believe the accusations against Jung. So when Park publishes her story she encounters an extraordinary backlash.

Jun 26, 2023 • 29:16

Introducing... Burning Sun

Introducing... Burning Sun

The sex scandals that brought down some of the world’s biggest K-pop Stars. A tale of depravity, power and excess - hidden behind a facade of wholesome pop music. In 2019 some of the world’s biggest music stars were found guilty of sharing secretly filmed sex videos, others of rape. Korean heart-throbs, used to being mobbed by adoring female fans, had been videoing themselves committing acts of terrible abuse and sharing them on group chats with each other. When all this came to light, thes

Jun 20, 2023 • 3:28

Mayday: The Evidence Gatherers

Mayday: The Evidence Gatherers

In a secret location in a European city is an archive that contains over a million documents. It’s run by a tough-talking Canadian, Bill Wiley, who set up an evidence-gathering organisation funded by Western governments. Using undercover criminal investigators operating inside a war zone, the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) has spent the last eight years extracting official documents from Syria. Wiley says that evidence will prove that the Assad regime has been res

Apr 7, 2021 • 54:08

Mayday: The Canister on the Bed

Mayday: The Canister on the Bed

“The crime scene had been left unguarded for two weeks”. What really happened in the Douma massacre? This episode is a diversion from the story of the life and death of James Le Mesurier. It’s about one of the most contested events in the war - the chemical attack in the town of Douma in 2018. Unravelling what really happened there takes us to the heart of the global race to control the narrative of the Syrian war. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helm

Nov 20, 2020 • 36:57

Mayday: 10. The Second Casualty

Mayday: 10. The Second Casualty

“They will be targeted for the rest of their lives.” Where does that leave everyone else? When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his

Nov 9, 2020 • 33:38

Mayday: 9. The Boiling Frog

Mayday: 9. The Boiling Frog

“My love it’s 10 times worse than we thought.” Things start to unravel. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say –

Nov 9, 2020 • 32:39

Mayday: 8. Operation Magic Carpet

Mayday: 8. Operation Magic Carpet

“I had to do it because my colleagues faced death.” Now the rescuers need saving. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detract

Nov 9, 2020 • 23:42

Mayday: 7. Managed Massacres

Mayday: 7. Managed Massacres

“ I have these epiphanies all the time, especially if I had anchovies on my pizza..” Could the White Helmets be involved in staging chemical attacks? When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, t

Nov 9, 2020 • 36:11

Mayday: 6. The One With Sean Penn

Mayday: 6. The One With Sean Penn

“I went to meet with Assad to see what kind of access we might get.” James is accused of a horrific crime. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James

Nov 9, 2020 • 27:11

Mayday: 5. God Bless Syria

Mayday: 5. God Bless Syria

“He hadn’t really understood that he would be singled out.” How to tell who the jihadists are. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier

Nov 9, 2020 • 35:25

Mayday: 4. Hoax Producers

Mayday: 4. Hoax Producers

“There’s something addictive about uncovering the world as it really is.” The allegations begin. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurie

Nov 9, 2020 • 31:09

Mayday: 3. The Miracle Baby

Mayday: 3. The Miracle Baby

“This was just one baby out of thousands and thousands of other babies.” How James got involved in a war. When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. Jame

Nov 9, 2020 • 25:16

Mayday: 2. The Pizza in the Suitcase

Mayday: 2. The Pizza in the Suitcase

“I was naked having a strip search and I just know James was somewhere laughing his head off.” Who was James Le Mesurier? When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elabor

Nov 9, 2020 • 17:13

Mayday: 1. On the Ledge

Mayday: 1. On the Ledge

“The story sounds like a purely English murder.” The rumour mill starts over who or what killed James Le Mesurier. When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax

Nov 9, 2020 • 19:52

Introducing... Mayday

Introducing... Mayday

When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was fo

Nov 3, 2020 • 2:37

Tunnel 29: 10. The Shoes

Tunnel 29: 10. The Shoes

“I started dancing with Eveline.” A final twist in the final chapter.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman Sound Design:

Oct 16, 2019 • 18:04

Tunnel 29: 9. The Signal

Tunnel 29: 9. The Signal

“If you don’t have a coffee, then bring me a cognac.” Ellen's plan is derailed.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman Sou

Oct 16, 2019 • 14:42

Tunnel 29: 8. The Messenger

Tunnel 29: 8. The Messenger

I said "ok, I'll do it”. Ellen, Mimmo's girlfriend, agrees to play a dangerous role.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merrima

Oct 16, 2019 • 14:08

Tunnel 29: 7. The Interrogation

Tunnel 29: 7. The Interrogation

“That’s the first time I saw her again.” Wolfdieter's show trial begins.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman Sound Desi

Oct 16, 2019 • 16:51

Tunnel 29: 6. The Gun

Tunnel 29: 6. The Gun

“And then my interrogation began.” The escape operation unravels.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman Sound Design: Elo

Oct 16, 2019 • 14:35

Tunnel 29: 5. The Trap

Tunnel 29: 5. The Trap

“We had no chance to be together.” The diggers hatch a new plan, unaware the Stasi are onto them.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: H

Oct 16, 2019 • 16:17

Tunnel 29: 4. The Death Strip

Tunnel 29: 4. The Death Strip

“If we could hear them, they could hear us.” The diggers reach the terrifying death strip.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena M

Oct 16, 2019 • 14:03

Tunnel 29: 3. The Deal

Tunnel 29: 3. The Deal

“We have a tunnel.” The diggers are on the hunt for money and make an unlikely alliance.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Mer

Oct 16, 2019 • 15:03

Tunnel 29:  2. The Spy

Tunnel 29: 2. The Spy

“I choose the codename Fred.” A hairdresser becomes a Stasi spy.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman Sound Design: Eloi

Oct 16, 2019 • 14:34

Tunnel 29: 1. The Escape

Tunnel 29: 1. The Escape

“I didn’t want to be a part of this new world.” Joachim is on holiday in East Germany when he hears Berlin is to be divided. The wall is built and the escapes begin. Joachim has to decide whether he'll be among them.Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. It’s also the story of the Stasi spy who betrays the tunnel

Oct 16, 2019 • 19:00

Introducing... Tunnel 29

Introducing... Tunnel 29

Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel. Producer & Presenter: Helena MerrimanSound design: Eloise WhitmoreEditor: Richard Knight#tunnel29

Oct 11, 2019 • 2:26

The Ratline: Stephen Fry meets Philippe Sands

The Ratline: Stephen Fry meets Philippe Sands

In a bonus episode of Intrigue: The Ratline, Stephen Fry interviews Philippe Sands in front of an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. They discuss a range of issues brought up by the series including historical responsibility and the nature of evil. Plus as a special extra, there is a full version of The Ratline theme music by Catrin Finch and Sekou Keita.

Oct 15, 2018 • 20:12

The Ratline: 10. Persilschein

The Ratline: 10. Persilschein

Philippe and the team work out the identity of the mysterious man Otto lunched with on Lake Albano, and discover he too is connected with the Nazi Bishop. They take a trip to the lake to meet the Priest who buried the man and he reveals an unbelievable family secret.A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations.In this episode, Dame Sue Black is incorr

Oct 8, 2018 • 30:07

The Ratline: 9. The Lucids

The Ratline: 9. The Lucids

Philippe travels to Albuquerque to meet Tom Lucid Jnr, the son of the CIA agent who recruited Karl Hass, chief source on Project Los Angeles and the man Otto had lunch with on Lake Albano. How much does he know about his father's role in recruiting Nazis and a close relative in Geneva?A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations. Producer: Gemma Newby

Oct 8, 2018 • 28:38

The Ratline: 8. Nest of Spies

The Ratline: 8. Nest of Spies

Philippe and the team work out the identity of the mysterious man Otto lunched with on Lake Albano, and discover he too is connected with the Nazi Bishop. They take a trip to the lake to meet the Priest who buried the man and he reveals an unbelievable family secret.A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations. Producer: Gemma Newby Sound Design: Neil

Oct 1, 2018 • 30:57

The Ratline: 7. The Nazi Bishop

The Ratline: 7. The Nazi Bishop

Philippe accesses the Vatican archives to find out about Otto's protector in Rome, the man who was by his side as he lay dying, Alois Hudal. Hudal's archivist reveals something extraordinary.A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations. Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Oct 1, 2018 • 25:34

The Ratline: 6. The Men Who Murdered Nazis

The Ratline: 6. The Men Who Murdered Nazis

Otto contracts a strange illness and Charlotte rushes to Rome to be by his side. Philippe talks to an old friend who was working for British intelligence in 1949 and explores who might have been after Otto and why.A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations.Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Sep 24, 2018 • 21:39

The Ratline: 5. La Forza del Destino

The Ratline: 5. La Forza del Destino

Midnight. Rome. 1949. Otto arrives in the eternal city, penniless, homeless, searching for a way out to Argentina. He's also unwittingly found himself in the middle of a battle between East and West. He finds employment and makes a trip out of the city to the countryside.The Ratline is a story of a curious death, political intrigue, spies, Nazi hunters, shadowy forces in the Vatican and a son grappling with the sins of his father. Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Sep 24, 2018 • 25:24

The Ratline: 4. Where's Otto?

The Ratline: 4. Where's Otto?

The war is over and Otto has disappeared. Whilst his friends are committing suicide or being tried for mass murder Otto has escaped high into the mountains with the help of a young SS soldier. Meanwhile Charlotte is working on getting him out of Austria.A story of life, love and a curious death told by writer and barrister, Philippe Sands. A cold war mystery that reveals shadowy forces at work and consequences that stretch across generations.Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Sep 21, 2018 • 24:58

The Ratline: 3. A Lot Going On in Lemberg

The Ratline: 3. A Lot Going On in Lemberg

Whilst Charlotte Wachter and her children spend the summer in Zell am See, Otto is in Lemberg overseeing the 'Grosse Aktion' - the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps.The Ratline is a story of a curious death, political intrigue, spies, Nazi hunters, shadowy forces in the Vatican and a son grappling with the sins of his father. Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Sep 21, 2018 • 32:18

The Ratline: 2. Meet The Wachters

The Ratline: 2. Meet The Wachters

In episode two of the Ratline we meet the Wachters, Otto and Charlotte and chart their ascent to power. Otto's job takes the family to Krakow and on to Galicia, where he makes some dubious decisions, and Horst continues to maintain his father's innocence. The Ratline is a story of a curious death, political intrigue, spies, Nazi hunters, shadowy forces in the Vatican and a son grappling with the sins of his father. Producer: Gemma NewbySound Design: Neil Churchill

Sep 18, 2018 • 25:54

The Ratline: 1. Secrets in the Castle

The Ratline: 1. Secrets in the Castle

Philippe Sands investigates the mysterious disappearance of senior Nazi, Otto Wachter, who was indicted for mass murder. The Ratline is a story of a curious death, political intrigue, spies, Nazi hunters, shadowy forces in the Vatican and a son grappling with the sins of his father. In episode one of this ten part series we travel to a castle outside Vienna to meet an old man who believes his Nazi father was murdered, and a voice from the past offers up clues to how it might have happened.Produc

Sep 18, 2018 • 19:49

Introducing... The Ratline

Introducing... The Ratline

A story of love, denial and a curious death presented by Philippe Sands.

Aug 16, 2018 • 3:40

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 5

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 5

How the murder of British businessman and fixer Neil Heywood changed China. Concluding the true-life tale of sex, death and politics, told by the BBC's former China Editor Carrie Gracie. As we hear, however, the story isn't over - as one thing you can't predict in China is the past. Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

Mar 17, 2017 • 20:51

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 4

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 4

A spectacular show trial exposes the lavish lifestyle of China's new elite. The continuing true story of sex, death and top-level Chinese poltiics, told by the BBC's former China Editor, Carrie Gracie. Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

Mar 10, 2017 • 21:53

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 3

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 3

What really happened in the hotel suite in Chongqing? The British businessman and go-between Neil Heywood arrives in Chongqing, where an"iron-blooded" police chief holds sway. The continuing true story of sex, death and Chinese politics, told by the BBC's former China Editor Carrie Gracie. Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

Mar 3, 2017 • 18:42

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 2

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 2

We've met the mayor's wife. Now meet the mayor, the remarkable man who takes this story to the national stage. The continuing true story of death, sex and elite politics in China, presented by BBC's former China Editor Carrie Gracie. Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

Feb 24, 2017 • 23:17

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 1

Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel: Episode 1

The story of the mysterious murder which changed the course of Chinese politics. Carrie Gracie investigates the killing of a British man, Neil Heywood, in Chongqing in 2011, and explores his links to China's up-and-coming power couple. China is gripped by a lurid show trial. Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard

Feb 17, 2017 • 22:55

Introducing... Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel

Introducing... Murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel

The story of the mysterious murder that changed the course of Chinese politics.

Feb 15, 2017 • 0:31

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