British Scandal
In a country obsessed with gossip, the great and the good fear one thing more than any other - scandal. British scandals change the course of history. They bring down governments, overthrow the rich and cause the mighty to fall. Some are about sex, others about money. In the end, they’re all about power. But often at the heart of a scandal, there are ordinary human stories. Stories of those caught up in the swirl of outrage. Who was really to blame for what happened? Why did they do it? And when all is said and done, did anything really change? From the creators of Business Wars, American Scandal and Ghost Story, comes British Scandal. Each week, hosts Alice Levine and Matt Forde delve into the murkier side of the British elite, from Phone Hacking to Profumo to the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss. Because sometimes the truth doesn’t set everyone free… Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
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Recent Episodes
The Suez Plot | Make Britain Great Again | 1
Nov 04, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles how British Prime Minister Anthony Eden's desperate need to prove himself led to the 1956 Suez Crisis. After waiting 15 years to succeed Winston Churchill, Eden finally becomes PM only to face Egyptian President Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal. Viewing Nasser as a new Hitler and desperate to restore Britain's fading empire, Eden begins plotting military action despite warnings from Churchill and his own cabinet, setting the stage for a catastrophic foreign policy disaster.
- Egypt Seizes the Suez Canal
- Anthony Eden's Long Wait for Power
Encore: Guy Fawkes | Matt and Alice Go to Prison | 4
Oct 28, 2026Summary Preview
British Scandal hosts Alice Levine and Matt Ford visit the Tower of London with curator Dr. Alden Gregory to explore Guy Fawkes's imprisonment and torture following the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The episode provides an immersive tour of the historic site, examining the brutal interrogation methods used on Fawkes, the political context of the conspiracy, and how the Tower served as both a symbol of state power and a place where centuries of British history unfolded. The tour reveals the psychological and physical horrors prisoners faced while exploring how the failed plot became embedded in British culture through mandated annual commemorations.
- Arriving at the Tower of London: First Impressions
- Meeting Dr. Alden Gregory: The Tower as State Power
Listen Now— Over My Dead Body: Operation Sideswipe
Oct 26, 2026Summary Preview
This episode explores a sophisticated staged accident scheme targeting truck drivers in New Orleans, centered around attorney Vanessa Moda, a former Hollywood stuntwoman. The story follows trucker Jamie Maurice's suspicious collision on the I-10 freeway and reveals a pattern of fraudulent crashes designed to generate personal injury lawsuits, ultimately leading to betrayal, exploitation, and murder.
- Jamie Maurice's Suspicious Accident
- The Aftermath and Strange Behavior
Encore: Guy Fawkes | Treason | 2
Oct 14, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the audacious Gunpowder Plot of 1605, following Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators as they plan to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James. The plotters secure a cellar beneath Parliament and acquire 36 barrels of gunpowder, but a mysterious warning letter leads to their discovery. The episode culminates with Fawkes's capture just moments before he could ignite the explosives, marking one of the most infamous acts of treason in British history.
- The Audacious Plan Revealed
- Securing the Cellar and Gunpowder
Listen Now: Audible True Crime – Ghost Story
Oct 12, 2026Summary Preview
Journalist Tristan Redman investigates a chilling convergence of supernatural experiences and family history after discovering that three unconnected families, including his own, reported paranormal activity in his childhood bedroom - the same room that shared a wall with the house where his wife's great-grandmother was murdered by gunshots to the face. This personal investigation blends ghost story, murder mystery, and family drama as Redman uses his journalistic skills to explore whether his wife's ancestor is trying to communicate about her decades-old murder, potentially straining his relationship with his in-laws.
- Introduction: Three Stories Intertwined
- The Haunted Bedroom: Teenage Paranormal Experiences
Encore: Guy Fawkes | Gunpowder | 1
Oct 07, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the early life of Guy Fawkes and the origins of the Gunpowder Plot. From witnessing the brutal execution of his Catholic neighbor at age 16 to joining the Catholic underground and eventually meeting Robert Catesby, we follow Guy's transformation from a Yorkshire boy into a revolutionary willing to blow up Parliament. The story explores the intense Catholic-Protestant tensions of early 17th century England and how systematic persecution drove a group of men to plan the most audacious attack on the British government in history.
- The Brutal Reality of Catholic Persecution
- Escaping York and Joining the Catholic Underground
Encore: Guy Fawkes | Plot | 3
Oct 07, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the aftermath of the failed Gunpowder Plot, following Guy Fawkes' brutal interrogation, trial, and execution. Despite being caught red-handed attempting to blow up Parliament, Fawkes refuses to break under torture and maintains his Catholic faith throughout his ordeal. The episode reveals how King James and Robert Cecil used the plot to crush Catholicism in Britain, while Guy Fawkes' defiance inadvertently transformed him into an enduring symbol of resistance that has outlived the king who tried to erase him.
- The Hunt for Conspirators Begins
- Guy Fawkes Faces Torture
The Guildford Four | Head Held High | 3
Sep 30, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the final stages of the Guildford Four's fight for freedom, from Margaret Thatcher's staunch opposition to their release through to their eventual exoneration in 1989. After 15 years of wrongful imprisonment, new evidence of police misconduct emerges, forcing even the Crown's own prosecutor to admit the convictions were unsafe. The episode reveals how systemic corruption nearly destroyed innocent lives and follows Gerry Conlon's struggle to rebuild after release.
- Police Officers Arrested and Thatcher's Resistance
- Home Secretary Defies Thatcher and Orders Appeal
Listen Now: My Mom’s Murder
Sep 28, 2026Summary Preview
Lauren Malloy hosts this deeply personal podcast investigating her mother's death, which she was told for 30 years was from natural causes. After receiving a mysterious Facebook message in 2020 from a woman claiming to be her mother's best friend, Lauren discovers that her mother may have been murdered when Lauren was just 18 months old. The podcast follows Lauren's journey as she investigates what really happened to her mother, pulling threads and knocking on doors that had been shut for decades.
- Introduction: A Life-Changing Discovery
- Lauren's Background and Life in Rhode Island
The Guildford Four | Buried Alive | 2
Sep 23, 2026Summary Preview
This episode of British Scandal examines the Guildford Four case, focusing on Gerry Conlon's fight for freedom after being wrongfully imprisoned for IRA pub bombings. Human rights lawyer Gareth Pearce takes on his case, uncovering evidence of police torture, forced confessions, and a government cover-up. The episode reveals how IRA members actually responsible confessed to the bombings, yet the Guildford Four remained imprisoned for over a decade, highlighting massive failures in the British justice system during the Troubles.
- Jerry Conlon's Midnight Transfer and the Beginning of Hope
- Gareth Pearce Takes on the Case
The Guildford Four | Day Trips to the Moon | 1
Sep 16, 2026Summary Preview
This episode tells the harrowing story of Gerry Conlon, a young petty thief from Belfast who becomes ensnared in one of Britain's most notorious miscarriages of justice. After the 1974 Guildford pub bombing kills five people, police desperation and anti-Irish prejudice lead to false confessions extracted through torture. Gerry, his friend Paul Hill, and eventually Gerry's entire family are arrested and convicted despite their innocence, highlighting the systemic failures that would define the Guildford Four case.
- The Guildford Pub Bombing
- Gerry Conlon's Troubles in Belfast
Summary Preview
Matt Ford and Alice Levine wrap up their Operation Mincemeat series by interviewing historian Dr. Helen Fry, who has written over 25 books on World War II intelligence operations. They explore the fascinating world of wartime deception, from secret bugging operations that captured German generals' conversations to the diverse skills required for successful espionage. Dr. Fry reveals how women played crucial roles in intelligence work, discusses whether Operation Mincemeat could be replicated today, and explains why these stories of deception continue to captivate audiences 80 years later.
- Introduction to World War II Intelligence and Deception
- The Secret Bugging Operations and Intelligence Gathering
Operation Mincemeat | Hook, Line and Sinker | 3
Sep 02, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles Operation Mincemeat, one of World War II's most audacious deception plans. British intelligence officers Charles Cholmondeley and Ewan Montague used a corpse disguised as a Royal Marine officer to plant false invasion plans, convincing Hitler that the Allies would attack Greece instead of Sicily. The elaborate scheme involved creating an entire fictional identity, complete with love letters and personal effects, for a homeless man who died in London. When German spy Karl-Erik Kuhlenthal discovered the briefcase in Spain and brought the intelligence to Hitler, the Nazis fell for the deception completely, moving troops away from Sicily and enabling a successful Allied invasion that broke the Axis powers.
- The Setup: Bletchley Park Intercepts German Intelligence
- Hitler's Strategic Dilemma and Intelligence Concerns
Operation Mincemeat | Dead Drop | 2
Aug 26, 2026Summary Preview
British intelligence operatives Charles Chomley and Ewan Montague execute Operation Mincemeat, a daring WWII deception plan to mislead the Germans about the Allied invasion of Sicily. Using a corpse dressed as a Royal Marine officer carrying false documents, the team attempts to convince Hitler that Greece, not Sicily, is the real invasion target. The operation involves creating an elaborate backstory, navigating Spanish politics, and hoping a series of unlikely events unfolds perfectly to save 100,000 Allied lives.
- The Submarine Mission Begins
- Operation Mincemeat Explained
Listen Now: Audible True Crime
Aug 24, 2026Summary Preview
This episode tells the story of James Arthur Ray, a charismatic self-help guru who rose to fame after appearing on Oprah, attracting thousands to his transformative seminars. The narrative focuses on Ginny Brown and her daughter Kirby, who attended Ray's Harmonic Wealth Weekend in March 2009, where Ray's powerful stage presence and psychological techniques both impressed and unsettled attendees. The episode foreshadows a tragic outcome when Kirby later attended Ray's Spiritual Warrior retreat in Sedona, Arizona, in October 2009, spending her life savings of nearly $10,000, only for Ginny to receive devastating news from authorities that her daughter would never return home.
- James Arthur Ray's Rise and Dark Promise
- The Harmonic Wealth Weekend Experience
Operation Mincemeat | The Perfect Body | 1
Aug 19, 2026Summary Preview
This episode introduces Operation Mincemeat, one of World War II's most audacious deception operations. In 1943, Britain desperately needs to convince Hitler that their invasion target is Greece, not Sicily. Two MI5 officers, Charles Cholmondeley and Ewan Montagu, devise an extraordinary plan: dress a corpse as a British officer, plant fake invasion documents on the body, and float it off the Spanish coast. What follows is a darkly comedic tale of wartime deception involving morgue visits, elaborate backstories, and morally questionable decisions in service of winning the war.
- Discovery of the Body and the Sicily Problem
- The Birth of Operation Mincemeat
Summary Preview
In this extraordinary episode, Douglas Robertson shares his harrowing survival story of being shipwrecked in the Pacific Ocean for 38 days after killer whales struck his family's boat in 1972. His ordeal occurred in the same waters where Maurice and Marilyn Bailey were later shipwrecked for 117 days. Douglas discusses the family's survival strategies, the psychological challenges, and how the experience shaped his philosophy on life and resilience.
- The Decision to Sail Around the World
- The Whale Attack and Sinking
The Shipwrecked Marriage | Landlocked | 3
Aug 05, 2026Summary Preview
After 117 days lost at sea following a whale attack, British couple Marilyn and Maurice Bailey are miraculously rescued by a Korean fishing vessel. This episode chronicles their recovery, media whirlwind, return to Britain, and ultimate decision to sail again despite Maurice's life-threatening lung condition. Their remarkable story reveals how isolation at sea strengthened rather than destroyed their marriage.
- Korean Fisherman's Discovery and Rescue Decision
- Marilyn's Near-Death and Maurice's Desperate Choice
The Shipwrecked Marriage | Adrift | 2
Jul 29, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the harrowing survival story of Marilyn and Morris Bailey, who spent 117 days adrift at sea after their yacht was destroyed by a whale in the Pacific Ocean. The couple faces starvation, dehydration, failed rescue attempts, and near-death as they struggle to stay alive on a tiny life raft, with Marilyn eventually taking charge when Morris's health deteriorates.
- The Whale Attack and Immediate Aftermath
- Morris's Fatal Mistake: 300 Miles Off Course
Listen Now: I Am Not Nicholas
Jul 22, 2026Summary Preview
This episode features journalist Jane McSorley introducing her podcast 'I Am Not Nicholas,' which investigates a bizarre case that began in January 2022. A man arrested in a Glasgow COVID ward claimed to be an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, while authorities insisted he was Nicholas Rossi, an American fugitive wanted for rape in Utah. McSorley spent over four and a half years following this extraordinary story of disputed identity, courtroom drama, and mysterious behavior.
- Discovery of the Story
- The Identity Mystery