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
Harry v Wills | Brothers in Arms | 1
Mar 04, 2026Summary Preview
This episode explores the deteriorating relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry following their mother Princess Diana's death in 1997. From their initial bond forged in grief to their growing estrangement over the years, the story traces key moments that drove a wedge between the brothers - from their different approaches to mourning, to tensions over Camilla Parker Bowles, to Harry's eventual isolation as William aligned with royal protocol and chose duty over brotherhood.
- The Fatal Altercation at Kensington Palace
- Diana's Death and the Burden of Duty
Sharon and Ozzy | Inside the Osbourne Machine - Mick Wall on Chaos, Control and Survival | 4
Feb 25, 2026Summary Preview
In this episode of British Scandal, hosts Matt Ford and Alice Levine interview music journalist Mick Wall, who spent over 40 years documenting Ozzy Osbourne's life and wrote his official biography. Wall shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories about the chaotic yet enduring partnership between Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, revealing how Sharon's business acumen and fierce management style transformed Ozzy from a dismissed joke into a rock legend, while also serving as his caretaker through decades of addiction and illness.
- First Encounters with Ozzy: The Troubled Early Years
- The Infamous Sunday Lunch and Biography Process
Sharon and Ozzy | Master of Reality | 3
Feb 18, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the pivotal transformation of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's lives through MTV's groundbreaking reality series 'The Osbournes.' After a domestic violence incident in 1989, Ozzy enters rehab and commits to sobriety, while Sharon continues managing his career through the 1990s. In 2000, struggling to maintain relevance, Sharon agrees to an MTV reality show that will film their family 24/7. The show becomes a massive phenomenon in 2002, reaching 6 million viewers on premiere night and becoming MTV's highest-rated series ever. However, success brings new challenges: Sharon is diagnosed with colon cancer, Ozzy's Parkinson's symptoms become apparent, and the family grapples with unprecedented fame while maintaining their sobriety and sanity.
- The Wake Before the Beginning
- The Aftermath and The Promise
Sharon and Ozzy | Paranoid | 2
Feb 11, 2026Summary Preview
This episode covers a dark period in Ozzy Osbourne's career from 1982-1989, chronicling his descent into addiction, the toxic dynamics with his wife and manager Sharon, and culminating in a horrifying act of domestic violence. The story explores how the couple's destructive relationship was fueled by Ozzy's substance abuse, Sharon's controlling behavior, and interference from Sharon's father Don Arden, who sought to exploit the chaos for his own gain.
- Randy's Death and New Beginnings
- Life on the Road with Baby Amy
Sharon and Ozzy | Blizzard of Oz | 1
Feb 04, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the turbulent early relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Arden, beginning with Ozzy's arrest for attempting to murder Sharon in 1989, then flashing back to trace their partnership from 1978. After being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy hits rock bottom before Sharon takes him on as a client, transforming him into a solo star through increasingly outrageous stunts—including biting the head off a dove and later a bat. The episode ends tragically with guitarist Randy Rhoads' death in a plane crash.
- Ozzy's Shocking Arrest and Black Sabbath's Decline
- Sharon's Firing and Ozzy's Meltdown
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The Post Office Scandal | The Clarke Advice | 3
Jan 26, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the final stages of the Horizon scandal, from Richard Roll's crucial testimony as a whistleblower to the eventual Court of Appeal victory that exonerated 42 sub-postmasters. The episode reveals devastating evidence that Post Office executives knowingly continued prosecutions despite internal legal advice warning them the convictions were unsafe, and actively shredded documents to cover their tracks. It's a story of perseverance against institutional corruption and the ultimate vindication of those wrongly convicted.
- Richard Roll's Crisis of Conscience
- Paula Vennells' Post Office Profits and Lawsuit Threat
The Post Office Scandal | The Secret File | 2
Jan 21, 2026Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the emergence of the Justice for Sub-Postmasters Alliance as evidence mounts that the Horizon computer system, not sub-postmasters, was responsible for false theft accusations. Forensic accountant Ian Henderson discovers damning evidence of Horizon's flaws and the Post Office's cover-up, while CEO Paula Vennells attempts to suppress the truth and protect the institution's reputation.
- Ian Henderson Discovers Hidden Evidence
- Joe Hamilton Discovers She's Not Alone
The Post Office Scandal | A New Horizon | 1
Jan 19, 2026Summary Preview
This episode explores the beginning of the Post Office Horizon scandal, following Jo Hamilton, a sub-postmistress in South Warnborough who became one of hundreds wrongly accused of theft due to a faulty computer system. When the new Horizon accounting system began showing unexplained shortfalls in her accounts, Jo spent years trying to reconcile the figures, eventually facing prosecution and conviction for false accounting despite never stealing a penny. The episode reveals how a trusted British institution prosecuted honest people while covering up systemic flaws in their technology.
- The Mysterious Whistleblower Meeting
- Jo Hamilton Takes Over the Village Post Office
New Year, New Scandals - We'll Be Back Soon
Jan 12, 2026Summary Preview
This brief New Year's teaser episode sets the stage for an upcoming season of scandal-focused content. The hosts banter about their holiday break and tease several intriguing topics they'll be covering, including royal feuds, mysterious deaths, reality TV drama, and investigations into historical controversies. While short, the episode builds anticipation for a diverse lineup of stories ranging from royal family intrigue to true crime and cultural phenomena.
- New Year Return and Series Tease
- Scandal Preview: Royal and Reality TV Drama
The Other Virgin's Baby | How WW1 Changed Sex | 4
Dec 31, 2025Summary Preview
British Scandal hosts Matt Ford and Alice Levine explore the fascinating Russell v Russell case with Professor Lucy Bland, a leading historian of gender and sexuality. This episode examines how the 1920s scandal about a woman becoming pregnant while allegedly still being a virgin exposed deep societal issues around class, sexuality, misogyny, and sexual ignorance in post-WWI Britain.
- The Evolution of Sex Education and Sexual Knowledge
- Women's Transformation After World War I
The Other Virgin's Baby | Fight to the Death | 3
Dec 24, 2025Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the decades-long legal battle over the Ampthill peerage, focusing on Geoffrey Russell's struggle to claim his rightful title as the fourth Baron Ampthill. After his father John's death in 1973, the family challenges his legitimacy once again, forcing Geoffrey and his aging mother Christabel to fight through courts and public scrutiny. The battle spans 50 years, from the 1920s divorce scandal through Geoffrey's eventual triumph in 1976, though not before his mother's death during the final legal proceedings.
- The Fight Resumes: Geoffrey Faces New Challenges
- Christabel's Defiant Stand Against Divorce
The Other Virgin's Baby | Hunnish Scenes | 2
Dec 17, 2025Summary Preview
In this episode of British Scandal, the dramatic 1921 divorce case between Christabel Russell and John Russell unfolds. After becoming pregnant in a sexless arranged marriage, Christabel finds herself fighting Lady Amthil, her formidable mother-in-law, who is convinced the baby is illegitimate. What begins as a private family matter erupts into a sensational public trial involving accusations of adultery, cross-dressing revelations, and shocking testimony about marital assault. Despite Lady Amthil's machinations and societal prejudice against independent women, Christabel battles to secure her son Geoffrey's rightful place as the Russell heir.
- Lady Amthil Confronts the Marriage Crisis
- The Pregnancy Revelation and Reconciliation Attempt
Summary Preview
This episode explores the bizarre true story of Christabel Russell, a modern young woman who married into British aristocracy in 1918 and became entangled in one of history's strangest marital scandals. After agreeing to a marriage without physical intimacy, Christabel faces mounting pressure from her domineering mother-in-law to produce an heir, leading to escalating tensions with her husband John that culminate in threats, coercion, and ultimately an impossible medical mystery when she's declared pregnant despite claiming to be a virgin.
- A Doctor's Impossible Discovery
- An Unconventional Courtship
Summary Preview
This episode provides a critical update on the Michelle Moan and PPE MedPro scandal, featuring investigative journalist David Conn who has been following the story from the beginning. Following the High Court's ruling that PPE MedPro breached its £122 million contract by providing defective PPE, the company declared insolvency just before the payment deadline. Conn discusses the systemic issues revealed by the VIP lane procurement process, the challenges of recovering public money, and the ongoing National Crime Agency investigation into potential criminal offenses including fraud and bribery.
- The Court Ruling and Missing Money
- The Scapegoat Defense and Political Fallout
Summary Preview
This episode presents a dramatic account of the 1993 West Memphis Three case, beginning with the brutal murder of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. The narrative follows the discovery of the victims' bodies by local police and sets up the controversial investigation that would follow, in which three teenagers were falsely accused of the murders amid satanic panic hysteria. The case would ultimately spark a nearly two-decade campaign for justice that captured national attention.
- Introduction to the West Memphis Three Case
- The Search Begins in Robin Hood Hills
Encore: Michelle Mone | The Smoking Gun | 3
Nov 26, 2025Summary Preview
This episode chronicles the unraveling of Baroness Michelle Moan's involvement in a £200 million PPE contract scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic. After 25 million surgical gowns were rejected as unusable, journalist David Conn spent years investigating the deal, eventually uncovering that Moan and her husband Doug Barrowman secretly received £29 million in profit. Despite repeated denials and legal threats, leaked documents exposed their lies, culminating in a disastrous BBC interview where Moan admitted to lying to the press and having access to the money.
- The Rejected Gowns: A £122 Million Failure
- David Conn Begins His Investigation
Listen Now: Business Wars | The Race to Ozempic
Nov 19, 2025Summary Preview
This Business Wars episode examines the explosive growth of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and the dangerous counterfeit market that has emerged in response to supply shortages. The episode details an FDA raid that seized thousands of fake semaglutide vials and explores how pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are battling both counterfeiters and each other in a $28 billion market while struggling to meet surging consumer demand.
- The Ozempic Phenomenon and Supply Crisis
- FDA Raid Uncovers Massive Counterfeit Operation
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Encore: Michelle Mone | Bra Wars | 1
Nov 14, 2025Summary Preview
This episode introduces Michelle Moan's remarkable rise from a Glasgow council house to becoming a lingerie entrepreneur with Ultimo, while exploring the early foundations of her business empire and the personal costs of her ambition. The story traces her journey from a desperate young mother making a promise to her premature baby to give him the best life possible, through the creation of a revolutionary bra design, to the eventual bitter collapse of her marriage to business partner Michael. The narrative sets up the complex character of an ambitious woman whose drive for success would later become central to a major PPE scandal.
- National Crime Agency Raid and Opening Scene
- Declan's Birth and Michelle's Life-Changing Promise