Best Mayhem Murder Radio Podcasts (2024)

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Bonus - Gone Fishing case breakthrough 5:00

2d ago5:00

5:00

There has been a major development in the case of one of New Zealand’s hugely popular true crime podcasts - Gone Fishing produced by Stuff and RNZ. The crown has admitted there was a miscarriage of justice in the trials that saw Gail Maney and Stephen Stone convicted of the murder of Deane Fuller-Sandys. Maney and Stone were convicted in 1999 of ki…

1
S1.32: The Prince of Poyais 41:31

5d ago41:31

41:31

This week, Iain tells the story of Gregor MacGregor, a 19th-century trickster who took con artistry to a whole new level. In 1820, Gregor invented his own country – complete with a national flag and even a currency – and managed to convince hundreds of British people to uproot their lives and move thousands of miles away, under the false pretence o…

1
S1.31: The French Impressionist 40:14

12d ago40:14

40:14

This week, Laura looks at perhaps one of the most unbelievable cases we’ve covered yet. When a missing boy from Texas turns up halfway around the world, no one can quite understand what happened to him. But, once the story starts to unravel, the answer is more shocking than we could have ever imagined… Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain…

1
S1.30: Gentlemen, This Is A Robbery 37:43

19d ago37:43

37:43

This week, we’re in Boston, where Iain is digging into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Isabella Gardner heist. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.By BBC Radio 5 Live

1
S1.29: The Wicked Crimes of Jolly Jane 36:29

28d ago36:29

36:29

Laura looks at the crimes of ‘Jolly’ Jane Toppan, the woman believed to be America’s first female serial killer. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.By BBC Radio 5 Live

1
S1.28: The Harvey’s Casino Bombing 42:29

1M ago42:29

42:29

This week, Iain looks at an extortion plot involving a homemade bomb, a confusing ransom note and an unusual father-son dynamic. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk. Details of help and support with domestic abuse, g…

1
S1.27: The Anne Marie Fahey Disappearance 38:04

1M ago38:04

38:04

This week, Laura looks at a murder case involving a possessive lover, a diabolical brotherly pact, and a mysterious cooler box bobbing in the Atlantic ocean. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk. Details of help and s…

1
Bank Holiday Special: Slick Willie 23:01

2M ago23:01

23:01

Here at Murder They Wrote, we think there’s no better way to celebrate the bank holiday than hearing about some good old fashioned bank robberies. This week, Laura dives deep into the case file of one of history’s most prolific bank robbers – a man who earned himself a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Expect high-stakes heists, unb…

1
S1.26: A Murder In The Mearns 38:46

2M ago38:46

38:46

When businessman Maxwell Garvie goes missing from his home in May, 1968, the last place police expect to find him is in an underground tunnel beneath one of Aberdeenshire’s most picturesque tourist attractions. But, as the circumstances around his murder begin to unravel, investigators are plunged into a murky underworld of sex, scandal… and deadly…

1
S1.25: The Sally Salisbury Stabbing 34:37

2M ago34:37

34:37

This week, Laura tracks the rise and (spectacularly dramatic) fall of a famous 18th-century courtesan. Sally Salisbury’s client list runs the gamut of London’s rich and famous (think secretaries of state, future kings, and so on). In other words, she’s living the high life. That is until one fateful night in December 1721 when she flies into a jeal…

1
S1.24: The Frank Sinatra Jr. Kidnapping 40:23

2M ago40:23

40:23

It’s December, 1968, and Frank Sinatra Jr. has just been kidnapped by two strangers in the night. But these aren’t your regular kidnappers. In fact, they’re total amateurs. What follows are bungled ransom negotiations, a confusing money drop, and a very controversial statement made on the stand. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirli…

1
S1.23: The Double Diamond Heist 41:09

3M ago41:09

41:09

This week, Laura is visiting a diamond shop in Paris that was robbed not once but TWICE by a shady international jewel thief group. Learn how the group got its name – The Pink Panthers – and how it pulled off two such audacious heists in the space of just 15 months. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC …

1
S1.22: The Melissa Mystery 36:45

3M ago36:45

36:45

This week, Iain looks at a case that was blown wide open by an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. When a man named Elmer DeBoer is found dead in a field near Waterford, Michigan, police are pretty sure that a local couple – an ex-convict and his teenage runaway girlfriend – are responsible. But, for ten months, they struggle to find any leads. That is …

1
S1.21: The Smuttynose Murders 30:36

3M ago30:36

30:36

This week, Laura is diving into a grisly murder case that took place on a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire. Smuttynose Island is a picture-perfect – albeit rugged – landscape. On the evening of March 6th, 1873, a small boat arrives on its shores. By the morning, the boat is gone. And two of the island’s resident are dead. Murder They Wr…

1
S1.20: The Mona Lisa Is Missing 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

The Mona Lisa might just be the most recognisable painting in the world. But did you know that, in 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s priceless portrait was stolen from the Louvre? Find out how a humble house painter pulled off this incredible theft – and why police brought Picasso in for questioning – in Iain’s episode this week. Murder They Wrote with Lau…

1
Easter Special: The Man Who (Almost) Stole Easter 20:29

4M ago20:29

20:29

In this bitesize Easter special, Iain covers the case of the Cadbury Creme Egg theft. Find out what happened when, in February 2023, a Leeds man broke into a warehouse and made off with 200,000 of the chocolatey treats. The picture discussed in this episode can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-66254085. Murder They Wr…

1
S1.19: The Murder Assignment 42:46

4M ago42:46

42:46

How far would you go for your favourite teacher? This week, Laura is travelling to 1990s Wisconsin to find out how a group of teenagers got landed with a very deadly homework assignment. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc…

1
S1.18: The Cursed Gold 41:12

4M ago41:12

41:12

The Brinks-MAT robbery is one of the most famous in British history. This week, Iain takes an in-depth look at the heist and asks: how did a group of gangsters manage to break into a high-security warehouse and walk away with solid gold worth £26 million? Plus, he digs into the complex police operation that took investigators from London to Bristol…

1
S1.17: The Fairy & The Fire 45:34

4M ago45:34

45:34

This week, Laura is digging into a very famous case from Irish history: Bridget Cleary. In 1895, Bridget’s body was found buried in a shallow grave near the town of Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary. And as police begin to dig into Bridget’s backstory, they learn that she had recently been accused of being a “fairy changeling” – a dark, mythical crea…

1
S1.16: The Lincoln Axe Murderer 34:00

4M ago34:00

34:00

This week, Iain digs into a 1992 murder case that took place in Lincoln. When two people are found dead having been attacked with an axe, police begin an unusual investigation to catch the killer. An investigation that involves paint fragments, an infrared light machine, and a 3,000-mile trip around Europe. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and…

1
S1.15 The Patty Hearst Kidnapping 40:38

5M ago40:38

40:38

Patty Hearst was the heiress to a multi-million-dollar media company. In 1974, when reports emerged saying she’d been captured by the Symbionese Liberation Army, the world held its breath. But no one could have expected what happened next. This week, Laura digs into the details of the case, analysing what exactly happened to Patty during her time w…

1
Matthias Weckman 20:22

5M ago20:22

20:22

Lucie Skeaping looks at the life and music of German organist and composer Matthias Weckmann, who died 350 years ago this month.By BBC Radio 3

1
S1.14: The Poison Ivy Case 37:45

5M ago37:45

37:45

After a two-week break, Iain is back in the driving seat this week. His case takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 1930s. When William Kappen is found dead on the day he is due to get married, police are immediately suspicious of his estranged sister Marie. Find out how a patch of poison ivy helps break open the case and lead investigators…

1
S1.13: The Rue Montaigne Murders 42:29

5M ago42:29

42:29

Laura is taking over again this week to tell the story of the Rue Montaigne murders. When a triple murder takes place in 19th-century Paris, police are led on an Agatha Christie-style chase to hunt down the killer. Expect LOTS of twists and turns! Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe n…

1
S1.12: A Deadly Affair 45:17

5M ago45:17

45:17

This week, Laura’s case – set in 1950s Cincinnati – involves a complicated love triangle between ex navy man Bill Bergen, his wife Louise and his mistress Edythe Klumpp. When Louise’s body is found in a park, police must figure out whether Bill and Edythe had anything to do with her death. But the deeper they dig, the more confusing the story becom…

1
S1.11: The Machine Gun Kelly Kidnapping 42:13

6M ago42:13

42:13

This week, Iain’s case has all the trappings of a true crime extravaganza: old-school gangsters, wealthy oil tycoons, elaborate money drops, and even a trip to Alcatraz. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Email us at lauraandiain@bbc.co.uk.…

1
S1.10: The Brides In The Bath 33:05

6M ago33:05

33:05

It’s January 1915 when Detective Inspector Arthur Neil receives a strange letter in the post with a couple of newspaper clippings attached. The clippings describe two seemingly unconnected incidents of women drowning in their own bathtubs. The letter writer asks Detective Inspector Neil to dig a little deeper. And when he does, he unravels a case f…

1
S1.9: The Trunk Murderess 35:19

6M ago35:19

35:19

This week, Iain is looking at a famous case that took place in 1930 in Arizona. When Winnie Ruth Judd falls out with her two best friends, things turn from bad to worse… to deadly. And what happens next will send shockwaves around America. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so yo…

1
Chinoiserie 32:36

6M ago32:36

32:36

Mark Seow looks at 18thC Europe's fascination with the Orient, including music by Purcell and Couperin, and he explores the lives of certain musicians living in 18thC Beijing. Plus an edition of The Early Music News.By BBC Radio 3

1
S1.8: The Millennium Star 33:49

6M ago33:49

33:49

This week, Laura looks at the unbelievable case of the Millennium Dome diamond heist, a true story that has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Expect speedboats, explosions, smoke bombs… and steak and kidney pies. Trust us – you won’t want to miss this. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Soun…

1
Early Music for Christmas Eve 36:26

7M ago36:26

36:26

From her home in North London, Hannah French presents a selection of medieval carols, plus Renaissance & Baroque music for Christmas Eve, including festive pieces by Corelli, Vivaldi, Charpentier, Manfredini, Byrd, Manchicourt & Handel. Join Hannah in the French kitchen as she also tucks in to some Yuletide treats fit for a cosy Christmas Eve.…

1
Alessandro Stradella: Music, mayhem and murder 41:56

7M ago41:56

41:56

Alessandro Stradella's star burned brightly but briefly. His music was glorious; his lifestyle was dissolute: embezzlement, sexual imprudence and political intrigue - Stradella fell foul of his misdemeanours in 1682 when he was murdered by a hitman at the age of just 38. Hannah French is joined in the studio by the University of Birmingham's Profes…

1
S1.7: The Maple Syrup Heist 35:20

7M ago35:20

35:20

We’re in the countdown to Christmas – a time to overindulge on sweet treats and sugary goodness. With that in mind, Iain has a maple-syrup-themed story he’s diving into this week. Get ready to hear all about an outlandish, multi-million-dollar heist that comes to a particularly sticky end. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is …

1
S1.6: A Corpse In The Kitchen 34:49

7M ago34:49

34:49

This week, we’re in Victorian England as Laura dives into the case of Frederick and Maria Manning. This is a story of duplicitous desperation and deadly dinner invites. And it even has an appearance from a world-famous author. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is available weekly on BBC Sounds. Subscribe now so you never miss …

1
Carl Friedrich Abel 26:40

7M ago26:40

26:40

Lucie Skeaping delves into the life and music of the extraordinary 18th-century German viol player and composer Carl Friedrich Abel, who was born 300 years ago this year. Plus, your weekly edition of Early Music News from Mark Seow.By BBC Radio 3

1
S1.5: A Killer Cuppa 35:24

7M ago35:24

35:24

This week Iain looks at the case of Caroline Grills, an elderly lady with a killer instinct when it comes to making tea. It’s 1947 in Sydney, Australia, when members of Caroline’s family begin to fall ill with a sudden and mysterious ailment. No one can understand what’s going on – until Caroline’s nephew reads a newspaper article that blows the ca…

1
Early Music in Derbyshire 45:48

8M ago45:48

45:48

The National Trust's Senior Curator John Chu takes Hannah French around two stunning properties in Derbyshire: Hardwick Hall & Kedleston Hall to explore the musical links in the buildings, furnishings and art works. Plus, your weekly edition of Early Music News from Mark Seow.By BBC Radio 3

1
S1.4: Dr Hazzard's Sanatorium 31:12

8M ago31:12

31:12

This week, Laura is looking at the case of Dr Hazzard, a so-called wellness practitioner with some seriously suspicious methods. When two wealthy sisters fall prey to Dr Hazzard’s persuasive spiel, it’s up to their former nanny, Margaret Conway, to spring them out of the remote sanatorium. Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling is …

1
S1.3: The Hitman Dentist 30:25

8M ago30:25

30:25

This week, Iain dives into the case of Glennon Engleman – aka ‘The Hitman Dentist’. It’s 1958 in St Louis, Missouri, when Glennon finds himself drowning in debt. His solution? A murder-for-profit scheme that flies under the radar from police for more than two decades. Along the way, Glennon leaves a trail of destruction in his wake. That is until h…

1
S1.2: The Coffin Kidnapper 30:36

8M ago30:36

30:36

It’s Laura’s turn this week and she’s looking at the 1992 kidnapping of Stephanie Slater, an estate agent in Birmingham. Stephanie was abducted by a man posing as a prospective house buyer wanting to look around a property. She was driven to a remote location and, once there, things became even more terrifying. But, along with the chilling details …

1
S1.1: A Deadly Honeymoon 29:23

8M ago29:23

29:23

Laura and Iain dive into their first ever case. For the premiere episode of Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling, Iain is leading – and he’s taking us to location very close to his heart: Edinburgh! When Ernest Domoulin and Helga Konrad elope to the Scottish capital, it looks like they have a bright future ahead of them. That is,…

1
Introducing... Murder They Wrote with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling 3:39

9M ago3:39

3:39

Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling are almost ready to open up the criminal case files for their brand-new True Crime podcast! Starting with one of their own… Well, kind of. Listen and laugh along as Laura and Iain discuss how they would pull off an imaginary high-stakes heist and disappear under all new identities. Subscribe now so you never miss an…

1
The Tallis Scholars at 50 28:31

9M ago28:31

28:31

The Tallis Scholars mark their 50th anniversary this year so today, founder Peter Phillips and two of the group's singers meet with Hannah French to choose some highlights from the last five decades of recording and giving concerts at home and abroad.By BBC Radio 3

1
Fifty years of the Academy of Ancient Music 34:29

9M ago34:29

34:29

The Academy of Ancient Music celebrates its golden anniversary this year - 5 decades since harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood and record producer Peter Wadland cooked up the idea of forming a historically-informed orchestra one evening in London's Marquis of Granby pub. Since then, they have produced hundreds of recordings, launched the careers of …

1
Guillaume de Machaut 35:35

10M ago35:35

35:35

Lucie Skeaping discovers the remarkable Guillaume de Machaut, as both poet and composer in 1300s France, in conversation with Machaut experts Elizabeth Eva Leach and Uri Smilansky. With thanks to French Radio, Le Miroir de Musique, the Orlando Consort and Sollazzo Ensemble for making recordings available for this programme.…

1
The Taverner Consort at 50 35:06

11M ago35:06

35:06

The Taverner Consort and Players emerged in 1973 and has since become a world leader in the period performance of Baroque and Classical music. Hannah French talks to its founder Andrew Parrott about the group's extraordinary five decades of success and discovery.By BBC Radio 3

1
Antonio Cesti 22:56

11M ago22:56

22:56

"The most celebrated Italian musician of his generation"...but what do we know now about the 17th century composer Antonio Cesti? In his quatercentenary year, Lucie Skeaping delves into his life and music to find out more, and we'll hear excerpts from his many operas. Plus, your weekly bulletin of Early Music News from Mark Seow.…

1
Dutch Organ Improvisation 49:55

1y ago49:55

49:55

International performer & lecturer Sietz de Vries takes Hannah French on an organ tour of the Dutch province of Groningen to explore its still thriving tradition of improvisation.By BBC Radio 3

1
William Byrd's keyboard music 22:21

1y ago22:21

22:21

Although best known for his vocal music, William Byrd's keyboard music was rich and diverse, leading the way for composers such as Giles Farnaby and Thomas Tomkins. Lucie Skeaping speaks to Professor of Harpsichord and Fortepiano Carole Cerasi about how Byrd set the future style of English keyboard music and why it remains important now 400 years a…

1
Bach's arrival in Leipzig 28:27

1y ago28:27

28:27

Mark Seow explores the cantata with which JS Bach exploded onto the musical scene in Leipzig in 1723 – Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV75. Bach composed the piece at a decisive turning point in his career. After various positions in churches and courts, he assumed his post of Thomaskantor in Leipzig on the first Sunday after Trinity, performing this c…

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