Hoaxed
Hoaxed is an investigative podcast series from Tortoise Media, the team behind Sweet Bobby. It examines a 2014 case in Hampstead, London, where two children falsely claimed they were abused by a Satanic cult led by their father and school staff. The story was a lie, but it spread widely online, becoming one of Britain's most serious conspiracy theories. The series explores the modern-day Satanic panic, the victims affected, and the search for those who coerced the children into lying.
Episodes
Introducing... One-star review
The Slow Newscast can be listened to here.When Ali, a restaurateur, realised his mobile’s security had been breached and that random things were missing from his flat, he began to feel uneasy. Was he being targeted for his politics or his personal life? And more importantly, who could stop it?The Slow Newscast from The Observer takes the news slowly. Who are the people biohacking themselves in a q
Ella's list | Ep 2
Seized upon by conspiracy theorists, Ella’s list of alleged cult members spreads like wildfire across the Internet. Hampstead parents start receiving death threats and lives are torn apart.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigat
Secrets and lies | Ep 1
Two young children make horrific allegations in a London police station, lighting the fuse on the most serious British conspiracy theories in decades.All six episodes are now available to listen for free. You can listen to the full series ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content coming soon by subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple podcasts or joining Tortoise as a member where you can support
Introducing: Hoaxed
In 2014, two children told police a shocking story: that they were being abused by a Satanic cult; a cult headed by their father and by parents and teachers at their school in the wealthy London suburb of Hampstead. The story was a lie. But on the internet, that didn't matter. From the team who brought you Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever co
