The Poppy Day Bomb | Times Investigates
The Times 75 episodes Nov 9, 2026
The Poppy Day Bomb is the 12th season of Times Investigates, an award-winning investigative and true crime podcast series from The Times and The Sunday Times. Each season delves into a different story, from war zones to suburban homes, pursuing brutal criminals and cult leaders. In this season, war correspondent Anthony Loyd investigates the life and fate of his colleague John Cantlie, who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State. Previous seasons have covered topics such as the killing of a 14-year-old boy, a Nazi bureaucrat who helped build modern Germany, and a businessman who charmed his way through British corridors of power.
Episodes
Ten years and six months | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 22
Today, Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.The judge described Brand as a “sexual predator” and praised the “brave” women who had come forward.Read how Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace helped women expose Russell Brand.They
Revisited: The 2023 investigation | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 21
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.On episode 21 of the Trial of Russell Brand podcast, we’re replaying our podcast from 2023 which contained the first allegations of sexual misconduct against Russell Brand.On Thursday, Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one co
“Nobody is above the law” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 20
Today, we sat down with one of the Met police detectives who investigated Russell Brand, Laura Nelson, as well as the CPS prosecutor, David Roberts, who brought the charges against him. After being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, Russell Brand is in police custody awaiting sentencing on Monday.Brand was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of a
Russell Brand guilty of rape | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 19
On the 19th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the jury delivered their verdict: Brand was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.It was after the reporting by Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace in 2023 that the police began investigating Russell Brand, which we can finally discu
How does the jury decide? | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 18
On the 18th day of the trial of Russell Brand, we join Times Crime Correspondent Jess Sharkey outside Southwark Crown Court as she waits for a verdict. Not knowing when that verdict will come, Jess is sitting in a corridor all day waiting for the moment when a voice comes over the loud speakers, calling her into the courtroom.In the meantime, while the court was on its lunch break, we took the opp
The jury is out | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 17
On the 17th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the jury went out to start their deliberations.But before the jury retired in the afternoon, the judge summarised the evidence and arguments from both the prosecution and defence, making clarifications as he did so.Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace join Luke Jones to unpack it all.Watch or listen to
“Poisoning of the well” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 16
On the 16th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the defence delivered their closing statement.The defence argued media reports in 2023 had “poisoned the well” against Brand, causing women to “reimagine” consensual sexual encounters and come forward to make complaints to police. Ian Winter KC also argued the time taken for these women to come forward was a “corrupter of justice” and there was no rea
“Half-truths spun into lies” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 15
On the 15th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the prosecution delivered their closing statement to the jury.Riel Karmy-Jones, the lead barrister for the prosecution, emphasised the complainants are six women who do not know each other, and have not sought compensation or the limelight.She described Russell Brand’s evidence as “half-truths spun into lies”, and suggested his account had been “wholl
Brand's wife gives evidence | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 14
On the 14th day of the trial of Russell Brand, the wife of the comedian and christian influencer, Laura Brand, gave evidence. She told the court it was “clear it was hard for him to be monogamous” when the pair began dating in 2006, causing them to break up in 2007. After getting back together and marrying in 2017, she said Brand was “caring, kind” and “a wonderful father to our children.”In cross
Brand gives evidence | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 13
On episode 13 of the Trial of Russell Brand podcast, Russell Brand gave evidence for the first time.Brand’s defence went through the details of each alleged offence, which relate to six women. The comedian told the court two of the allegations of rape were actually consensual sex. He said a third alleged rape did not happen. Consent, Brand insisted, was “fundamental… more important than sex itself
Invented, reimagined | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 12
On the twelfth day of the trial of Russell Brand, the jury were directed to find the defendant not guilty on one count of indecent assault. The judge, Justice Bennathan, told the jury there was insufficient evidence for count 2. This is where Brand was alleged to have grabbed the arm of a woman in the offices of MTV and attempted to drag her into a toilet.However, a new count of “attempted indecen
"Like he had been possessed" | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 11
On the eleventh day of the trial of Russell Brand, a former assistant of the comedian remembered him having an “insane sexual appetite”. While Helen Berger didn’t remember witnessing Brand doing anything illegal, in her statement she said that she had worked with lots of celebrities around whom bad behaviour was normalised. “This was on another level.”The court also heard that the sister of Woman
Questions and sketches | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 10
On the tenth day of the trial of Russell Brand, it was a non-sitting day for the jury. So, instead – you asked, we answered. We took the time to answer some of the many questions we’ve received. Will Russell Brand be cross-examined? And who is the Russell Brand look-alike who’s been in court every day?We’re also joined by court artist Priscilla Coleman, whose beautiful sketches have been making th
“They won’t believe me” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 9
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.On the ninth day of the trial of Russell Brand, more than 20 witnesses gave evidence relating to Woman 5. This is the complainant who alleges she was raped in Brand’s home in 2009. Two of the witnesses told the court Woman 5 did not tell police at the time because she didn’t think she would be believed.The defence sugg
“He treated me like an animal” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 8
On the eighth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 finished her testimony and was then cross-examined by the defence. Woman 5 said she felt “guilt and shame” but did not consent to a specific sexual act with Brand. The defence argued that she did consent and said Woman 5 had “idolised” Brand at the time.Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace ar
“It happened in a flash” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 7
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.On the seventh day in the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 5 told police she went willingly to Brand’s house, but during that visit something she didn’t consent to happened, and he allegedly raped her.Woman 4 and Woman 6 both allege Brand sexually assaulted them in their workplaces. The defence suggested Woman 4 did not h
“Don’t be a spoilsport” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 6
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.On the sixth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 3 took to the witness box. She alleges Brand orally raped her after he pulled her into a toilet in 2004.The defence suggested Brand invited her into the toilet where they had a “kiss and cuddle”.Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.Rosamund Urwin and
“A wild look in his eye” | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 5
On the fifth day of the trial of Russell Brand, Woman 2 took the stand. She described how Brand allegedly tried to pull her into a male toilet in 2001, going from a “friendly” person to a “wild-eyed maniac.”The defence suggested it could have been an invitation for a consensual encounter.Russell Brand denies all the allegations against him.Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace are in court every day,
"I know what happened" | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 4
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions some listeners may find distressing.On the fourth day of the trial of Russell Brand we heard from the first complainant. She alleges that Brand raped her in 1999 in Bournemouth. In an emotional video interview, the court heard her describe to police how she “couldn’t breathe” and told him “no, I don’t want this.” The defence barrister suggested the encou
The case against him | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 3
With our reporters following every word in court, the trial of Russell Brand began in earnest today. The prosecution laid out their case, calling Brand “ruthless, calculating, and manipulative…a sexual predator.” Brand has denied all charges against him.Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an epis
How to pick a jury | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 2
Today, the trial of Russell Brand began at Southwark Crown Court. Brand stands accused of seven charges, including rape and other sexual offences. He has denied all charges. In court today, the jurors who will decide Brand’s fate began to be chosen.Follow or subscribe to never miss an episode.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimite
The Charges | The Trial of Russell Brand Ep. 1
From provocative stand-up comedian to Hollywood leading man, Russell Brand will stand trial next month on seven charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to each. Every day throughout the trial, Luke Jones will be joined by Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, to dissect the evidence and discuss where the case might go next.Before the trial begins on Monday 12 O
Introducing | The Trial of Russell Brand
On Monday 12th of October, Russell Brand will stand trial in London’s Southwark Crown Court on seven charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault, relating to six women between 1999 and 2009.He has pleaded not guilty to each charge.We'll be bringing you daily updates throughout the trial.There will be no cameras inside the courtroom, no microphones, nor rolling news feed. Instead, we will
UPDATE - The woman on the balcony | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.6
As Nigel Farage returns to Parliament with a parliamentary standards investigation hanging over his head, The Sunday Times Insight team are back with the latest developments since the original series was released.What is a sitting US federal judge doing at George’s penthouse? Separately, there are more questions for Posh George, Nigel Farage and Reform UK over their finances and relation
‘Daddy’ | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.5
Nigel Farage realises one of his lifelong ambitions, as he becomes an MP, with the help of Posh George. This leads to questions over George’s financial support for his ally. Did it breach parliamentary rules? And, the Insight team tries to make sense of Posh George and Farage’s ten-plus year friendship after the fallout from their reporting. Both George Cottrell and Nigel
Crypto politics | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.4
In 2023 Posh George is accused of wading into Montenegro elections after police seize a crypto ATM. As negative headlines in the Balkans pile up, Farage, back on the campaign trail in the UK, is once again facing questions over his friend’s alleged behaviour. Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday TimesRead m
Control, not ownership | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.3
Back home after 8 months in a US prison, Posh George attends a rally where the controversial, far-right provocateur Tommy Robinson is speaking - and starts dating a Made in Chelsea star.Having already made and lost at least one fortune, George moves to the crypto paradise of Montenegro.Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday
Jailbird | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.2
It’s July 2016 and Nigel Farage is riding high on a Brexit wave when his young aide, Posh George is arrested following a sting by US federal agents. He’s accused of running a money laundering scheme over the dark web. Can the young financier escape a jail term and rebuild his gilded life?Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The
Meet George | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage Ep.1
Who is George Swinfen Cottrell, aka Posh George? Booted out of his expensive boarding school after gambling in 2010, he comes of age in London’s Mayfair district, learning the tricks of his trade in international finance, private banking, and offshore structures. George is soon drawn into the orbit of UKIP leader, Nigel Farage. Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.Ho
Introducing | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage
A baby-faced British aristocrat called George Cottrell faces arrest in the US, just weeks after he and his boss, Nigel Farage, reach the summit of their careers to date - the Brexit vote.A decade later ‘Posh George' is still the Reform leader's right-hand man. This groundbreaking series from The Sunday Times’s Insight team investigates how the politician who could hold the keys to Number 10 c
June 2026 UPDATE - Quinn is sentenced
On Friday 6th June, 2026, 52-year-old Paul Quinn received a 21-year prison sentence at Manchester Crown Court. Quinn will be eligible for parole after 14 years. Emily was in court to watch the proceedings.Host: Emily Dugan, special correspondent at The Sunday Times.Further reading: Police who got Andrew Malkinson jailed face criminal investigationContact Emily: emily.dugan@sundaytimes.co.ukIf
May 2026 UPDATE: Aiding suicide | Poison Ep. 6
Today on Friday, 29th May, 2026 Kenneth Law has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting suicide in Canada. In this special bonus episode, James chats to a former Ontario police officer about how they brought Law to justice, and catches up with Tom Parfett’s father, David. WARNING: This series contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk
Still not ‘free’ |Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 11
In the final episode of the series Emily catches up with Andy to reflect on the continued injustice and asks if he can now finally move forward?Host: Emily Dugan, Special correspondent at The Sunday Times.Contact Emily: emily.dugan@sundaytimes.co.ukRead more: The rapist who partied, had children and let Andrew Malkinson rotIf you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this
The man the police missed |Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 10
Following the conviction of Paul Quinn, Emily meets two senior Greater Manchester Police officers to ask how the force put the wrong man in prison, leaving the real rapist to live freely for over 20 years. Host: Emily Dugan, Special correspondent at The Sunday Times.Contact Emily: emily.dugan@sundaytimes.co.ukRead more: The rapist who partied, had children and let Andrew Malkinson rotIf you,
The real perpetrator (April 2026 UPDATE) | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 9
Justice is done, but decades late - in this special update to the series, we go to Manchester Crown Court as a jury finds 52-year-old Paul Quinn guilty of the rape for which Andy was wrongly convicted.Hosts: Will Roe and Emily Dugan, Sunday Times' Special correspondent.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Cri
The final battle | Last Man Standing Ep 10
Manveen and Anthony travel to a maximum security prison in Iraq to meet a man who could hold the answer to what happened to John Cantlie. But will this ISIS prisoner reveal all? Or will Cantlie’s death remain a mystery?Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Further reading: Anthony Loyd: my hunt for the forgotten Isis hostage John CantlieWatch: Hostage on BBC iPlaye
New leads | Last Man Standing Ep 9
Four years on from the launch of their podcast, Anthony and Manveen are back exploring the kidnap and disappearance of British photojournalist John Cantlie by ISIS in Syria, after a mysterious listener gets in contact.Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.Watch: Hostage on BBC iPlayer. Clips: BBC.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Tim
The Answers? | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 6
With his investigation reaching its final stages, Mario is given a name…And could a change in the law mean a breakthrough for the Enniskillen families?Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.co.ukinvestigates.podcasts@thetimes.com This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digit
The Politician | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 5
Mario speaks with a former IRA volunteer, who tells him something shocking about the bombing.Deep into his investigation, Mario is left asking how high up did the decision to authorise the killing go?Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.co.ukinvestigates.podcasts@thetimes.com This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Tim
The Dirty War | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 4
Mario searches for the ‘man with the limp’, allegedly seen in the Reading Rooms the night before the bombing.He learns the man is also linked to another terror plot. Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.co.ukinvestigates.podcasts@thetimes.com This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To e
The Borderlands | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 3
Mario asks why the IRA targeted Enniskillen and discovers police may have known about suspected IRA figures seen nearby, on the night before the killing happened. He also goes searching for the man accused of being the ‘mastermind’ behind the bomb. Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.co.ukinvestigates.podcasts@thetimes.com 
The Aftermath | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 2
Mario asks if enough was done to stop the bombing, and finds evidence of police failures to properly investigate.And the alleged mastermind is dramatically named. Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.co.ukinvestigates.podcasts@thetimes.com This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjo
The Atrocity | The Poppy Day Bomb Ep. 1
On Remembrance Sunday in 1987, an IRA bomb went off in Mario Ledwith’s hometown of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, killing 11 people.A lifetime later, Mario returns to investigate the silence surrounding that terror attack.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence that you may find upsetting.Host: Mario Ledwith, news reporter at The Times. Get in touch: mario.ledwith@thetimes.c
Introducing: The Poppy Day Bomb
On Remembrance Sunday in November, 1987 an IRA bomb exploded in the Northern Irish town of Enniskillen, killing 11 people.No one has ever been charged.The Times’s Mario Ledwith returns to his hometown, asking who carried out these bloody murders, how the authorities failed to properly investigate, and why a silence continues to surround what happened?Begins Monday 20th October. Host: Mario Le
A conversation on suicide prevention | Poison bonus Ep.
Why does suicide occur? Why is there still a stigma around it? And how can we work to prevent people from taking their own lives? If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.Guest: Professor Rory O'Connor, Professor o
2024 UPDATE: Kenneth Law in the dock | Poison Ep. 5
Kenneth Law faces 14 counts of murder and 14 of aiding suicide. James sits down with series producer Will to talk through the developments.WARNING: this series contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 1
UPDATE: Kenneth Law is arrested | Poison Ep. 4
Days after Poison first aired, Kenneth Law is arrested in Canada. At a late-night press conference, police reveal the alleged scale of his operation: 1,200 packages, shipped to over 40 countries.For the families left behind, the arrest brings both relief and renewed grief, and a question that hangs over the entire investigation: why did it take so long?WARNING: this series contains discussion
An encounter in Toronto | Poison Ep. 3
James flies to Canada, hoping to talk to Kenneth Law. After days chasing leads, he tracks him down to a car park in Toronto.WARNING: this series contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with the Samaritans online https://www.samaritans.org/ or call them for free on their 24-hour helpline 116 123.Host: James
The man who sells death | Poison Ep. 2
The search for answers leads to a name: Kenneth Law. From a quiet suburb outside Toronto, Law appears to run a website selling a substance to young, vulnerable, adults around the world, some of whom are using it to take their own lives. WARNING: this series contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk to someone, please get in contact with
The Life of Tom Parfett | Poison Ep. 1
Twenty two-year-old Tom Parfett took his own life in October, 2021. As his father David begins to ask questions, what first appeared as an isolated tragedy reveals a darker truth - one that exposes the ease with which death can be bought online. WARNING: This series contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know has been affected or needs to talk to someone, please get in
Introducing: Poison
Twenty two-year-old Tom Parfett took his own life in October, 2021. His grieving father’s search for answers leads investigative journalist James Beal from a quiet British town to a freezing carpark in Canada, where he tracks down a man allegedly selling death online.In this award-winning series, James Beal uncovers the global trade in a lethal substance, searches for the man alleged to be at its
The wilderness of mirrors | Murder in Cairo Ep. 2
The case breaks open. Using WikiLeaks cables, memoirs, and declassified files, journalist Emanuele Midolo joins Peter Gillman as their investigation into David Holden's death leads them all the way to a CIA post in Jerusalem. But who ordered the hit, and who looked away?Host: Manveen RanaGuests: Peter Gillman, former The Sunday Times reporter and co-author of Murder in Cairo, Emanuele Midolo,
The death of our star reporter | Murder in Cairo Ep. 1
December 1977: The Sunday Times correspondent David Holden lands in Cairo to report on crucial peace talks between Egypt and Israel. Hours later he’s found dead near the airport - shot with a single bullet to the heart. Decades later, Peter Gillman retraces Holden’s final days, uncovering a planned abduction, missing telexes, and an espionage tangle between Whitehall, the CIA and the KGB.Host
The neo-Nazi YouTuber | Britain’s New Far Right Ep. 2
On the trail of the far-right YouTuber known only as ‘Ayatollah’. Tips from undercover sources, summer camp sightings and voice-recognition technology lead David to a quiet village in the West Midlands. How did a karaoke-singing millennial go from writing about Asian footballers to livestreaming Hitler praise, and what role did YouTube play in keeping him online?Host: David Aaronovitch.
A lockdown creation | Britain’s New Far Right Ep. 1
With the streets emptied by Covid, David Aaranovitch steps into the online world of Patriotic Alternative, a far-right group turning the pandemic into a recruitment tool.Discovering a particularly virulent racist aligned to the group, David asks if YouTube is doing enough to stop hate speech?Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Channel 4, Sky News, ITN.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subs
Atonement? | The Feud Ep. 5
Andrew returns to Oxford to reveal the wounds that still remain following the seven-figure financial settlement. The woman who made an allegation against Martyn Percy speaks out, alleging intimidation by some of his supporters. And has Christ Church tried to hide the astronomical cost of the feud?Host: Andrew Billen, feature writer, The Times.This podcast was brought to you thanks to sub
Who blinks first? | The Feud Ep. 4
Breaking point as the college dons question Martyn Percy’s mental capacity. He accuses them of smear campaigns, and an ill-judged essay likening his plight to Nazi persecution triggers outrage. Costs soar, reputations crumble, and the University of Oxford itself is forced to intervene. After four long years, a deal is struck. But at what cost?Host: Andrew Billen, feature writer, The Time
Mystery in the cathedral | The Feud Ep. 3
Christ Church stalls when a student asks for protection, yet when Martyn Percy is accused of impropriety he is suspended within days. What at first appeared a battle over different styles of governance now carries the stain of misconduct - and divisions widen within the college.Host: Andrew Billen, feature writer, The Times.Clips: ITV, BBC, Sky News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to s
Immoral, scandalous, or disgraceful | The Feud Ep. 2
A stabbing, a scandal, and a battle over job descriptions. Andrew exposes the bureaucratic dispute that spirals into bitter war between Martyn Percy and Christ Church’s governing body. Behind the formal manners and age-old statutes, a plot is being devised to oust the dean at any cost.Host: Andrew Billen, feature writer, The Times.Clips: Walt Disney StudiosThis podcast was brought to you
Down the rabbit hole | The Feud Ep. 1
Christ Church, Oxford: a bastion of higher education since the 16th century that produced some of the country’s best and brightest, and is home to a very British way of life. When The Very Reverend Martyn Percy - a reformer from a working-class background - was appointed dean in 2014, everything looked promising. Until it didn’t. Andrew Billen explores the city's dreaming spires to find
Introducing: The Feud
The Very Reverend Martyn Percy leaves his post as dean of the world-famous Christ Church, Oxford, with a seven-figure settlement after a bitter dispute that pitted a lone reformer against an institution.But what really happened amid the Alice in Wonderland world of Oxford's dreaming spires?The Times's feature writer Andrew Billen heads down the rabbit hole to find out.This series was first release
Pennant money | The Legacy of Penrhyn Castle Ep. 3
Pennant money reshaped not only Jamaica, but also modern Britain. In Wales, it financed the vast Penrhyn slate quarry, built villages, and paid for the castle that April-Louise visits alongside her father, Gil. Together, they face the portraits of men who enslaved their ancestors, and ask what it would take for Britain to stop looking away.Host: Brenna DaldorphThis podcast was brought to you thank
Plantation records | The Legacy of Penrhyn Castle Ep. 2
April-Louise Pennant’s grandparents were part of the Windrush Generation, emigrating from the Caribbean to Britain in the 1950s. Visiting a local university archive to discover the significance of her Welsh surname, she discovers the Jamaica Papers - a collection of plantation records donated by the Pennants, which reveal a confronting truth.Host: Brenna DaldorphThis podcast was brought to you tha
Building Britain | The Legacy of Penrhyn Castle Ep. 1
Arguments still rage about Britain’s role in the slave trade, but the evidence of that dark past is written across the faces of some of the country’s wealthiest stately homes. Journalists Brenna Daldorph and David Aaronovitch face facts to look behind the grandeur and gold-leaf exteriors of one - Penrhyn Castle in North Wales - to uncover the brutal foundation on which it was built.Hosts: Bre
The kittens who still purr | The Messiah and his Kittens Ep. 4
Adnan Oktar is behind bars but some of his followers still believe. Louise meets his devotees, listens to their claims of injustice and comes to terms with the power Oktar still wields from behind bars. Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.Clips: Al-Jazeera, CNBC, Sky News, CNN.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode
The turnstile system | The Messiah and his Kittens Ep. 3
The fortress walls begin to crumble. Survivors describe suffering sexual abuse and financial crimes while cult insiders help the authorities bring Adnan Oktar down. Accompanied by a former ‘kitten’, Louise revisits the night the police finally descended on Oktar’s hilltop compoundHost: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at The Sunday Times.Clips: Ulusal KanalIf you, or someone you kn
Nice girls from good families | The Messiah and his Kittens Ep. 2
Away from the TV cameras, Adnan Oktar reigns over a den of secrecy. Louise meets the male enforcers he used to keep it under control. Oktar’s ‘lions’ reveal the hierarchy, rules, and ruthless methods used to enforce loyalty to the cult. And a woman who says she was sexually abused by Oktar describes how loyalty comes with a terrifying cost.Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent at
The Mahdi wears Armani | The Messiah and his Kittens Ep. 1
Meet Adnan Oktar, the Turkish televangelist who’s rarely spotted without an entourage of surgically enhanced young women he calls his ‘kittens’. After Oktar is sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison, Louise tries to get to grips with one of the strangest stories she has ever covered.Host: Louise Callaghan, Middle East correspondent at The Sunday Times.Clips: CNN TÜRK, TV100, Anadolu Agency,
Introducing: The Messiah and his Kittens
The leader of Turkey’s most powerful cult, Adnan Oktar, was sentenced to over 1,000 years in prison in January 2021. The Sunday Times’s Middle East correspondent Louise Callaghan steps into his weird world of ‘kittens’, ‘lions’, and televangelism to reveal its dark heart.This series was first published on 28 January, 2022.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and
Innocent | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 8
In July 2023, almost 20 years after he was sentenced to life in jail, Andrew Malkinson's conviction is quashed. We visit Andy a day after the Court of Appeal overturned his rape conviction following the revelation that new DNA evidence implicated another man in the crime. Host: Will Roe If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following org
A breakthrough (February 2023 UPDATE) | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 7
Finally, a door opens. The CCRC refers Andy’s case to the Court of Appeal, and police arrest another man. After 17 long years, could Andy finally be vindicated?Host: Will Roe If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape Crisis England & WalesNHS - Help after rape and sexual assaultCriminal Cases Review Commi
Police failings | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 6
Emily meets the former wife of another suspect in the original investigation. Police failures loom as we learn of other men - some with violent histories - who were barely investigated.Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday Times.Actress: Eliza Marsland.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:R
‘Forced’ to testify? | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 5
Cracks are showing in the case against Andy. Emily meets witnesses who claimed they felt pressure to testify, and learns of failures at the Criminal Cases Review Commission that may have contributed to a miscarriage of justice. Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following
Forensics | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 4
Years into Andy’s prison sentence, new forensic techniques reveal the presence of another man’s DNA at the crime scene. Emily investigates the implications of this and the challenges of reopening a long-closed case.Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday Times.Audio from HMP North Sea Camp courtesy of Two Step Films.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues
Witness testimony | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 3
Eyewitness evidence is powerful. But it is not infallible. Emily draws on wrongful convictions abroad to explore how memory and trauma can complicate justice and what this might mean for Andy’s conviction.Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:Rape
The trial | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 2
No DNA. Contradictory descriptions. Witnesses with hidden criminal pasts. Andy’s trial is fraught with controversy. As the jury returns a guilty verdict, Emily unpicks the flaws in the judicial system that can send an innocent man down.Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday Times.If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the followi
Life turned upside down | Seventeen Years - The Andrew Malkinson Story Ep. 1
In 2003, a 33-year-old mother of two was raped and left for dead during a horrific attack in Salford, Greater Manchester. A security guard called Andrew Malkinson was arrested and later sentenced to life - despite insisting he was innocent. Reporter Emily Dugan explores how a seemingly ordinary man became caught up in a shocking crime.Host: Emily Dugan, social affairs correspondent at The Sunday T
Introducing: Seventeen Years - the Andrew Malkinson story
A mother of two is brutally attacked, but was the wrong man sent to prison?Andrew Malkinson was wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape and sentenced to life in prison. The Sunday Times social affairs correspondent Emily Dugan investigates the flawed trial, unreliable witness testimony, police failings and breakthrough DNA evidence that turned the case on its head.This series was first released on 2
Questions and answers? | Cameron and the Toxic Banker Ep. 6
Finally facing interrogation, David Cameron and Lex Greensill appear before MPs. Between their testimony and half-apologies, we finally come to the truth - that the scandal surrounding Greensill Capital didn’t just bring down one company, it brought down British politics as a whole.Guest: Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Correspondent for The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch, former columnist for Th
The crash | Cameron and the Toxic Banker Ep. 5
What happens when the music stops? With insurers retreating and Lex Greensill’s tangled web of influence unravelling fast, only one thing’s for certain - many others stand to be exposed.Guest: John Collingridge, Deputy business editor at The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch, former columnist for The Times.Clips used: GFG Alliance, Parliament TV, Sky News, BBC News.This podcast was brought to y
