Crime Next Door
Gripping True Crime stories from neighbourhoods across the UK. Series 12 covers the Beast of Birkenhead, a miscarriage of justice that left a real killer unknown. Previous series include an assassin, a religious group, a farm death, the Salisbury poisonings, a golden toilet heist, and more.
Episodes
An Assassin Comes to Town: Trailer
As the hunt for a hitman gets underway, a Scottish town finds itself at the centre of an escalating political story of a disintegrating nation and a leader in exile.
An Assassin Comes to Town: 1. Glen Lyon Road
Kaye Adams returns to Glen Lyon Road in Kirkcaldy, the location of her first major news story. It was here that a shooting took place that shocked the nation.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Heather K
An Assassin Comes to Town: 2. The Black Car
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is flooded with armed police officers as the hospital’s cardiac unit battles to save the life of Nikola Stedul.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Heather Kane-Darling and Eliza
An Assassin Comes to Town: 3. The Swiss Passport
The police investigation into who shot Nikola Stedul takes a dramatic turn as officers uncover shocking information about the hitman.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Heather Kane-Darling and Elizabeth
An Assassin Comes to Town: 4. The President In Exile
As the full story emerges, the residents of Glen Lyon Road come to terms with the truth about the family living next door and their role on the international stage.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Hea
An Assassin Comes to Town: 5. The Trial
Kaye and the Stedul family relive a trial full of explosive testimony, accusation, counter-accusation and political revelation.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Heather Kane-Darling and Elizabeth Clark
An Assassin Comes to Town: 6. The Aftermath
The fallout from the shooting at Glen Lyon Road continues to reverberate as the Steduls take stock and look at the legacy their family has forged.An Assassin Comes to Town was presented by Kaye Adams.
Series Producers Debbie McPhail, Jack Kibble White and Elizabeth-Ann Duffy
Original Music and Sound Design by Fraser Jackson
Script Assistant: Marisha Currie
Executive Producers Heather Kane-Darling
The Vanishing Cyclist: Trailer
When Tony Parsons set off for a charity cycle ride through the highlands of Scotland - his family assumed he would return with tales to tell.
But Tony Parsons never came back. How could someone vanish on a busy road, with no trace of what happened? This series tells the story of Tony's final journey, and the exhaustive search for answers. With exclusive access to his family, and the team from Pol
The Vanishing Cyclist: 1: The Beginning
When Tony Parsons announced that he had a new idea to raise some money it raised few eyebrows. He'd already walked the Highland Way, and Hadrian's Wall. But this time, he wanted to do something different... a cycle ride...through the Highlands of Scotland and all the way home. It was a challenge which would test his resolve, and his endurance - but one he was sure he could complete, how ever long
The Vanishing Cyclist: 2: Alarm Bells
Tony Parsons didn't know how long his cycle ride would take. It might be one day. it could be three. All his family knew was that he'd come back through the door before too long. So when he didn't, they began to worry.
This episode tells the story of their immediate search... an agonising journey along his planned route, looking for any sign of Tony taking shelter. And we hear how a phone call to
The Vanishing Cyclist: 3: Losing Hope
The search for Tony Parsons is extensive. It's painstaking. And it's fruitless. But there are signs that they're inching closer to finding out what happened, and where he is.
Officers discover a last sighting, and use CCTV to narrow down Tony's progress. Do the answers lay in a small stretch of the Highland route, which police have already searched? Presented by Jane MacSorley.
Produced by Firecr
The Vanishing Cyclist: 4: A Breakthrough
Missing Persons cases are never closed. In the case of Tony Parsons - the active search had ceased. But officers were ready to revisit the case if ever new information came to light. So when a phone call came in, making an extraordinary claim to know exactly what happened to Tony, officers responded immediately.
This episode tells the story of that phone call, and the police response. Could the c
The Vanishing Cyclist: 5: Recovery
Having new information is one thing. Finding out if it's true - is quite another!
Armed with new evidence, police recruit specialist help to find the body of Tony Parsons.
This episode hears how experts analysed the land - found clues in the soil - and launched an intricate operation to try and locate Tony Parsons. Presented by Jane MacSorley.
Produced by Firecrest Films.
The Vanishing Cyclist: 6: End Game
The family of Tony Parsons waited three years for answers on what happened to him. Now they face a longer wait - for justice.
Prosecutors face a difficult decision - is this simply a case of dangerous driving? Or could the suspects face trial for murder?
This episode includes exclusive access to the prosecutor tasked with making that decision, as well as advocates for the defence, as the case rea
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: Trailer
How a brutal, occult-tinged murder shook a Welsh village to its core.
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 1. Shattering The Silence
An elderly woman is murdered in her own living room – and nothing about it makes sense.In the days after Mabel’s murder, fear takes hold as the village wonders if something uncanny is still among them. Then, just metres from the crime scene, there’s a shocking turn.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Manag
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 2. Lock The Doors
Fear spreads as the village realises what might be walking among them.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Music: Cerys Hafana
Mixing and Sound Design: Mike Woolley
Series Producer: Steven RajamAn Overcoat Media production for BBC Sounds
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 3. Silent Night
As Christmas approaches, the village is left reeling by a new death in their midst. As the rumour mill goes into overdrive, a ghostly piece of evidence appears before police eyes.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Music: Cerys Hafana
Mixing and Sound Design: Mike W
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 4. Bite Me
As police make an appeal for information on primetime TV, a phone call promises to unlock the entire case. The tip-off leads detectives somewhere they could have never expected.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Music: Cerys Hafana
Mixing and Sound Design: Mike Woo
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 5. If The Shoe Fits
With a prime suspect no-one ever expected, detectives race against time to uncover the truth behind his unassuming appearance – and secure the evidence that could prove his guilt.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Music: Cerys Hafana
Mixing and Sound Design: Mike W
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 6. Don't Say His Name
As journalists get a first glimpse of the accused in court, they face strict secrecy around reporting his identity. Meanwhile, detectives face a reckoning – will the case hold up?Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Music: Cerys Hafana
Mixing and Sound Design: Mike W
The Anglesey Vampire Killer: 7. Live Forever
With the crime apparently solved, one unanswered question continues to hang over the village - and everyone connected to the case - a quarter of a century on.Presenter: Meic Parry
Story Producer: Andrew Dickson
Assistant Producer: Katie Hill
Executive Producer: Leonie Thomas
Production Management: Amy Wheel and Janice Jardine
Pre-production research: Jess Gunasekara
Legal advice: Clare Hoban.
Musi
The Beast of Birkenhead: Trailer
The murder of Diane Sindall in Birkenhead, Merseyside led to Britain’s longest miscarriage of justice when local man Peter Sullivan's conviction collapsed after 38 years.This series returns to the streets, alleyways and estates of Birkenhead where it all happened, retracing Diane’s final movements. Follow through eyewitness testimony, unheard accounts and modern forensic science as we uncover how
The Beast of Birkenhead: 1. The Murder
In 1986, Diane Sindall leaves work to drive home but never arrives. What happened that night marks the start of a decades long unsolved case.Through testimony from those who knew her and those who encountered the crime scene, we look at Diane’s final movements, the violent nature of her attack and the growing fear gripping Birkenhead, a town on the Wirral in Merseyside.As we find out more, troubli
The Beast of Birkenhead: 2. Woman in Yellow
The hunt for Diane Sindall’s killer uncovers another victim who was dressed in yellow and attacked near the scene on the same night, raising fears of a serial attacker in Birkenhead.A police appeal focuses on the mysterious “woman in yellow”. As the investigation continues, the police uncover more attacks on women in the area and frustrations grow as leads collapse. Meanwhile, details of Diane’s i
The Beast of Birkenhead: 3. Because She Was A Woman
Diane Sindall’s murder ignites a movement with women across Birkenhead. Fueled by anger and grief they challenge police attitudes, confront society’s view of women and demand change. Against this backdrop Peter Sullivan stands trial. We examine the case built against him with contested confessions, disputed forensic evidence and testimony the jury never heard.Presenter: Olivia Graham.
Producers: K
The Beast of Birkenhead: 4. The Wrong Fella
Years after Peter Sullivan’s conviction, community whispers claim the police convicted the wrong man.Peter refuses to admit guilt and as advances in DNA testing offer a possible breakthrough for him. His legal team battle missing records, discredited forensic methods and a system reisitant to reopening old wounds. Until one crucial test changes everything.Presenter: Olivia Graham.
Producers: Kate
The Beast of Birkenhead: 5. Unknown Male One
Recorded on the day of Peter Sullivan’s appeal as judges consider DNA evidence unavailable in 1987. As the new evidence points to an unknown male, decades-old evidence crumbles under scrutiny. The court delivers its decision leaving one devastating truth intact: Diane’s killer has not been found. Presenter: Olivia Graham.
Producers: Kate Bissell, Gemma Maull and Olivia Graham.
Sound Design and Mus
The Beast of Birkenhead: 6. Back In Birkenhead
Returning to Birkenhead in the wake of Peter Sullivan’s release, we focus on Diane Sindall and the community still living with her murder. Peter shares details of his arrest, interviews and alleged police pressure, alongside renewed police enquiries that revisit overlooked witnesses and potential suspects. As officers collect fresh DNA and old memories resurface, the search begins anew for the man
The Beast of Birkenhead: 7. The Profiler
A Geographical Profiler looks at the two locations connected to Diane Sindall’s murder. It’s suggested that Diane’s killer was local and may have struck before.As new testimony suggests Diane may not have been attacked in the alleyway and emerging accounts name a local figure, the investigation edges closer to a new suspect.Presenter: Olivia Graham.
Producers: Kate Bissell, Gemma Maull and Olivia
The Beast of Birkenhead: 8. Whispers
As police put out a renewed appeal, we question whether long ignored patterns of sexual violence raise the possibility of a serial offender and whether Diane’s killer could have been stopped.We are also reminded that Diane Sindall’s murder is not just about the past as we visit a vigil for victims of violence against women.Presenter: Olivia Graham.
Producers: Kate Bissell, Gemma Maull and Olivia G
Servants and Saints: 1. The Truth
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Serious allegations of the worst kind and, according to former members, a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of comments on message boards across multiple websites and social media platforms but no one wants to go on the reco
Servants and Saints: 2. Dying in the Harness
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Allegations of child sexual abuse and a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of posts across multiple websites and social media platforms
But do the members of this fellowship simply want to live a quiet and devoted life? Or ar
Servants and Saints: 3. Undercover
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Allegations of child sexual abuse and a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of posts across multiple websites and social media platforms
But do the members of this fellowship simply want to live a quiet and devoted life? Or ar
Servants and Saints: 4. Hotline
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Allegations of child sexual abuse and a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of posts across multiple websites and social media platforms
But do the members of this fellowship simply want to live a quiet and devoted life? Or ar
Servants and Saints: 5. Dying to Self
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Allegations of child sexual abuse and a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of posts across multiple websites and social media platforms
But do the members of this fellowship simply want to live a quiet and devoted life? Or ar
Servants and Saints: 6. Hope
The ‘Church-With-No-Name’ has flown under the radar for more than a century but today is making headlines the world over. Why? Allegations of child sexual abuse and a failure from leadership to deal with the alleged perpetrators.
There are hundreds of posts across multiple websites and social media platforms
But do the members of this fellowship simply want to live a quiet and devoted life? Or ar
Death on the Farm: Trailer
It is almost fifty year since the bodies of Griff and Patti Thomas were found in their remote farmhouse in Llangolman, Pembrokeshire. And yet - exactly what happened to them, and who was responsible, is a question which still hangs over the community. Because there is the official police version of events. And then there is the other version.
This series from BBC Wales examines the case in detail
Death on the Farm: 1. What The Postman Saw
When a postman makes a grim discovery in the course of his morning rounds, the shockwaves are felt far and wide.
This series begins in 1976, with the memories of Nigel Rossiter, the postman who saw things he wished he hadn't seen. He was still learning the ropes, as a postman in the rural Pembrokeshire village of Llangolman. But that December day would change pretty much everything around here.
Death on the Farm: 2. The Investigation
By the end 1976, the community in Llangolman was still waiting for answers. Police officers had taken over the village, conducting their investigation into the deaths of Griff and Patti Thomas.
Their work included building up a picture of their victims - learning their habits, understanding their relationship as siblings, and asking who was set to benefit from their death. And they scour the crim
Death on the Farm: 3. Judgment
It's a matter of weeks since the crime scene at Ffynnon Samson was discovered, but the loose ends are already being tied into a neat bow.The police investigation led by DCI Pat Molloy has come to an end, the evidence all gathered and conclusions drawn. His file is passed to a coroner to conduct a formal inquest and close the case.But before that, the men of Llangolman are invited to attend a funer
Death on the Farm: 4. Only Murderers yn y Bwthyn
Pembrokeshire is a safe and secure place to live. But for a time in the 1980's, the feeling for many was different. Two violent murders once again had communities in fear. But for some, these latest crimes had parallels with Ffynnon Samson. And questions began to be asked as to whether the same person could be responsible.In this episode we meet Aled Scourfield - the reporter who first learned abo
Death on the Farm: 5. Blood Money
The official police report into the deaths at Ffynnon Samson is the most details account of the scene, and the events which took place.
But that report, completed in 1977, led to a conclusion that it was Griff who was ultimately responsible. A claim the community rejects.
Now, in this episode, that report is held up to the light, as the locals ask where the evidence was which led police to that
Death on the Farm: 6. In Plain Sight
In this final episode of Death On The Farm - the community is still battling for a different verdict. We hear how the police are conducting a forensic review, which may or may not reveal new clues. But patience amongst the locals is wearing thin... and many fear that the opportunity to clear Griff's name has come and gone. But perhaps a modern day expert can find new clues from within the original
The Salisbury Poisonings: Trailer
Six years after a mum was poisoned by a Russian nerve agent in Wiltshire, will a public inquiry bring answers?
In 2018, Dawn Sturgess came into contact with one of the most dangerous substances in the world: Novichok. She thought it was perfume.
Four months earlier, a former Russian spy and his daughter had been found slumped on a park bench having been poisoned too.
How could this happen
The Salisbury Poisonings: 1. The Novichok Attack
Salisbury becomes the scene of a major international incident. Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are found poisoned on a park bench.Then, an astonishing discovery: he’s a former Russian spy and they've been poisoned with Novichok, one of the deadliest substances in the world. Parts of Salisbury are locked down as police try to find the poison.This episode has been updated to reflect Sergei Skr
The Salisbury Poisonings: 2. Poison Perfume
More people fall ill from Novichok poisoning.It’s four months since the nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Salisbury is starting to return to normal and then, it happens again.Local mum Dawn Sturgess is given a bottle of perfume that contains the deadly chemical Novichok.Days later, Dawn dies in hospital leaving her family and friends wondering how she
The Salisbury Poisonings: 3. Baroness Theresa May
Theresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the attack, recalls when she first heard about the Salisbury poisonings.Baroness May describes how it felt to stand in the House of Commons and blame the Russian state for the attack, the moment she heard that a British citizen had been killed and shares her hopes for the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, To
The Salisbury Poisonings: 4. The Inquiry begins
Marie Lennon and Andy Howard reflect on an extraordinary first day at the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry. We hear that there was enough nerve agent hidden in a perfume bottle to kill thousands. Dawn is described as an “innocent victim, caught in the crossfire of an illegal and outrageous assassination attempt.” As the finger is pointed at Putin, Dawn’s family call on the Russian president to give evidence
The Salisbury Poisonings: 5. Dawn: A mother’s tribute
Caroline, Dawn’s mother, speaks publicly for the first time about her daughter and sets the record straight about who Dawn was. The police apologise to her family for the way she was portrayed, plus we hear evidence from the only person who saw what happened to Dawn on the day she was poisoned, her boyfriend Charlie Rowley.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O’Br
The Salisbury Poisonings: 6. The 999 Calls
Paramedics and police relive the moments they were called to Charlie Rowley's flat in Amesbury. First Dawn Sturgess is found unresponsive, and then several hours later Charlie falls ill too. The emergency services disagree about what has caused him to be so unwell. The Inquiry investigates whether Dawn could have survived if the initial treatment had been different.This episode was made by Marie L
The Salisbury Poisonings: 7. Russia responds
As the inquiry prepares to move from Salisbury to London, Andy Howard and Marie Lennon review a momentous week of evidence, which saw the emergency services interrogated and the communication between them questioned. Dawn's family ask for President Putin to appear at the inquiry in person to answer questions about her death and the Russian Ambassador to the UK gives his response. Focus turns to t
The Salisbury Poisonings: 8. What is Novichok?
Andrea Sella, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University College London, answers the big questions about Novichok. The deadly nerve agent killed Dawn Sturgess and poisoned many more in Salisbury and Amesbury in 2018. What is it, when was it developed, and what does it do to our bodies?This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O’Brien.Executive production by Mary S
The Salisbury Poisonings: 9. An act of war?
An in-depth interview with the Head of Counter Terror Policing at the time of the poisonings, Neil Basu. He relives how dangerous the investigation was for the officers involved, what it took to find the suspects, and 6 years on, how he feels about Dawn Sturgess’ death.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O’Brien.Executive production by Mary Sanders and Naomi Word
The Salisbury Poisonings: 10. The Spy Next Door
Who is Sergei Skripal? The former Russian spy was poisoned by Novichok in March 2018, but until now very little has been known about him, his life in England, and his mysterious past.
His friend and neighbour tells the Inquiry what he was like and how they became close. Plus, the BBC‘s Security Correspondent Gordon Corera describes Sergei’s life as a spy in Russia, and reveals how he ended up in
The Salisbury Poisonings: 11. Saving the Skripals
When the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed on a bench in Salisbury, it was Sunday shoppers who first stepped in to help. Amazingly, two of them were highly qualified medics. We hear their stories. Also, how the consultants at Salisbury District Hospital realised these were no ordinary patients.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O
The Salisbury Poisonings: 12. The Poisoned Detective
One of the first police officers to go inside Sergei and Yulia Skripal’s house after they were poisoned with a nerve agent was Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. He then became critically ill himself, after touching the front door handle. It had been smeared with the deadly chemical. He relives the events of 2018, which would change his life forever.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard,
The Salisbury Poisonings: 13. Science in Secret
When Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley were taken to hospital, the emergency services tried to piece together what had happened to them. We hear how they questioned whether it was a coincidence that they had treated two people for nerve agent poisoning four months earlier or whether the events could be connected. And we find out about Porton Down, the UK government’s secretive laboratory which ide
The Salisbury Poisonings: 14. The Hunt for the Poison
When Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with a nerve agent, police faced one of the most complex investigations in their history. They had to trace a weapon which they could neither see nor smell, but it could kill thousands. In this episode, we hear how they checked everything from coins to car keys in the hunt to find the source of the poisoning.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Ho
The Salisbury Poisonings: 15. The Suspects
Two Russian men visit Salisbury just as the former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter are poisoned with a nerve agent. They say they simply wanted to see the famous cathedral spire, but that’s not the view of the UK authorities who believe they came to kill. In this episode we learn more about the men, their movements and their real identities. Plus, we learn more about the Russian intelligence a
The Salisbury Poisonings: 16. Protecting the Public
As Salisbury starts to reopen in the summer of 2018, the authorities weigh up how to keep the public safe, when they know there could be more Novichok out there. Questions are asked about whether enough was done to protect people from accidentally picking up a discarded chemical weapon. This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O’Brien. Executive production by Mary Sa
The Salisbury Poisonings: 17. Marina Litvinenko
The widow of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko explains why she feels lessons weren’t learned between her husband’s assassination and the Salisbury Poisonings. Marina Litvinenko warns that British citizens need to be protected from foreign agents who ‘come to play their games’ in the UK and she recalls the moment she heard about the Salisbury nerve agent attack.This episode was made by Marie
The Salisbury Poisonings: 18. The Bottle and the Blind Spot
When the agents suspected of poisoning Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok left Salisbury, what did they do with the nerve agent and how did the deadly chemical weapon end up in the hands of Charlie Rowley four months later? In this episode, we hear the most likely theories from Counter Terror Police and discover why some parts of this mystery are still unsolved. The Russian state and the s
The Salisbury Poisonings: 19. The Closing Statements
After 7 weeks and over a hundred hours of evidence, the public hearings of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry come to an end. In this episode, the main participants, including Dawn’s family, make their final statements to the Chair.This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy Howard, Tom Ryan & Dan O’Brien.Executive production by Mary Sanders and Naomi Wordley.
The Salisbury Poisonings: 20. The Repercussions
This final episode, recorded in December 2024, considers what the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry will achieve, and what might change as a result. BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg and Dan O’Brien from BBC News discuss what we’ve heard, what happens next, and what impact the Salisbury Poisonings have had around the world.
This episode was made by Marie Lennon, Andy
The Golden Toilet Heist: Trailer
A story of art, mystery and a solid gold, fully plumbed in toilet stolen from a British palace.With behind-the-scenes access at Blenheim Palace, we explore the inside story of the heist and its fallout. Installed as part of an art exhibition, the £5 million toilet was notorious prior to its theft. Those behind the burglary remained a mystery for years. In 2025, with reporting restrictions lifted,
The Golden Toilet Heist: 1. The Heist
The mystery of one of Britain’s weirdest art heists begins at an exhibition party at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, in September 2019.A £5 million solid gold toilet, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, is centre-piece at the exhibition. Hours after partygoers leave it is stolen by a masked gang.The events are a shock for the palace staff who witness the heist and its aftermath, including g
The Golden Toilet Heist: 2. The Rumour
Stunned Blenheim Palace staff are coming to terms with an early morning raid as the gang make their getaway with the £5 million gold toilet.Meanwhile, rumours swirl about who could have orchestrated the heist with fingers pointing to the toilet’s creator, Maurizio Cattelan, who has a history of elaborate stunts. When the artist shares a statement denying any involvement a police investigation is l
The Golden Toilet Heist: 3. The Failures and The Fakes
As the palace reopens to the public, curious visitors flock to witness the infamous crime scene. Behind the scenes, Blenheim’s Chief Executive scrambles to tighten palace security. An internationally renowned art hunter is hired by the insurers to hunt the golden treasure. Meanwhile playful sightings of fake golden toilets pop up across Oxfordshire.Presenter: Clodagh Stenson.
Producer: Jonathan Ed
The Golden Toilet Heist: 4. The Thief
Four years later a toilet thief is unmasked as James ‘Jimmy’ Sheen. An investigation uncovers Sheen's dark past leading up to the Blenheim burglary with a career of crime that began in his twenties. The ringleader of multiple gangs, he's tied to violent thefts, nationwide fraud and a shooting in Coventry.Presenter: Clodagh Stenson.
Producer: Jonathan Eden and William McLennan.
Sound Designer: Meic
The Golden Toilet Heist: 5. The Fence
A trial begins and the three defendants plead not guilty. Details emerge about reconnaissance trips to Blenheim made days before the heist. Also, Jimmy Sheen’s voice notes are shared. They offer a rare chance to eavesdrop on the crime as it’s happening, uncovering how he cashed in on his golden loot.Presenter: Clodagh Stenson.
Producer: Jonathan Eden and William McLennan.
Sound Designer: Meic Parr
The Golden Toilet Heist: 6. The Gold
A top bullion dealer explains how the toilet could have disappeared and where the gold might be today. Meanwhile, Jimmy Sheen’s pocketed £520,000 from the gold sale and an investigation shows he’s made big money from other crimes. Explore where his missing millions could be and whether they will ever be in the hands of the police.Presenter: Clodagh Stenson.
Producer: Jonathan Eden and William McLe
Who Killed the Shakoors?: Trailer
A father is the sole survivor of a house fire that killed his wife and five children. On 15 October 2012, Dr Abdul Shakoor jumped from an upstairs window of his house in Harlow, Essex. It was a desperate attempt to get help.His wife Dr Sabah Usmani and their five children died in the fire and police opened a murder investigation. Dr Shakoor has been fighting for answers and justice ever since.Writ
Who Killed the Shakoors?: 1. A family trapped in the fire
A normally quiet residential street in Harlow is woken in the middle of the night to screams for help.
Doctor Abdul Shakoor jumps from the bedroom window of his Essex home as fire rages through the living room downstairs. His wife and five children are still inside. What Adbul didn't know then is that he’ll be the only family member to survive and also that someone else may have been in the hous
Who Killed the Shakoors?: 2. A second fire
The town of Harlow is in shock after a house fire left Dr Sabah Usmani and her four children dead. A fifth child is on life support in hospital. The father, Abdul Shakoor, is by his daughter's bedside praying for her to pull through. As the community in Essex tries to come to terms with what’s happened, detectives reveal the Shakoor's home wasn’t the only fire in the street that night and the sea
Who Killed the Shakoors?: 3. A murder investigation
Police get a breakthrough when something was found dumped near the Shakoor family home, eleven days after the fatal house fire.The discovery means the fire is now officially a murder investigation. As enquiries increase there's a problem, which could provide a reason why this case remains unsolved.Written and produced by Gabby Colenso
Presenter: Sonia Watson
Sound Design: John Cameron-McIntosh
Sto
Who Killed the Shakoors?: 4. Forensic evidence
Police believe someone broke into their home that night and a fire was started, but no-one has ever been charged. With claims of evidence compromised, mistakes made and missed opportunities. We turn our attention to the crime scene forensics.Hear from people closest to the case, speaking for the first time about their concerns.Written and produced by Gabby Colenso
Presenter: Sonia Watson
Sound Des
Who Killed the Shakoors?: 5. Justice for my family
Dr Abdul Shakoor lost his wife and five children in a house fire in Harlow, Essex.He shares his shock at the discoveries we've uncovered relating to the investigation.Dr Shakoor still hopes that one day those responsible will be brought to justice.Written and produced by Gabby Colenso
Presenter: Sonia Watson
Sound Design: John Cameron-McIntosh
Story Consultants: Barney Rowntree and Ben Robinson
On
The Ballad of Big Mags: Trailer
It’s the mid 1990s. On the Raploch estate in Stirling, a local community is living in fear. This is a place with many young families, and word is spreading that a convicted paedophile is living among them, placed there anonymously by the local council.Residents worry the streets are no longer safe for their kids, and outraged they weren’t told or consulted.It’s an outrage felt beyond the Raploch e
The Ballad of Big Mags: 1. Welcome to the Raploch
In the midst of a ‘paedophile panic’, residents of a Stirling housing scheme take matters into their own hands and one woman grabs the nation’s attention. Presenter: Myles Bonnar
Written by: Chris Cruickshank, Marisha Currie, Myles Bonnar and Graham Russell
Additional Scripting: Jack Kibble-White
Producer: Chris Cruickshank
Assistant Producer: Marrisha Currie
Executive Producers: Graham Russel
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