Podcast · True Crime

Bad People

by BBC Radio 5 Live · English · True Crime

Murderers. Fraudsters. Internet trolls. This is a podcast about people who do terrible things, and the science of humanity’s dark side. Series producer: Louisa Field Artwork: Kingsley Nebechi Music: Matt Chandler Editors: Anna Lacey and Martin Smith Academic Consultants for The Open University:

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest: 1 Dec 2025
Language: English

Latest episode

1 Dec 2025 · 4 min

Introducing... Gangster Presents... Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties

The story of the biggest prison smuggling plot ever busted in the UK - and the love story at the heart of it. Journalist Amber Haque untangles what happens when mental health nurse Amy Hatfield meets convicted criminal Joe Whittingham. Her investigation leads into a world of blackmail and manipulation, where you never quite know who to trust or who's watching. Credits Host: Amber Haque Producer: Becca Bryers Sound design: Ivor Manley and Andy Fell Story and music consultant: Emma Weatherill Development by: Rob Byrne, Rhiannon Nevada and Emma Shaw Production management: Gaelan Davis-Connolly…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

26 Dec 2024 · 40 min
125. The Secret History of the Clubcard
How one of the first Tesco Clubcards was used to pay off a blackmailer threatening to poison frozen food. And how that Clubcard was used to catch him. Presented by journalist and true crime documentary maker Amber Haque and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw. Producer: Ciaran Tracey with help from James Shield Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner: Izzy Lee-Poulton Bad People is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds
19 Dec 2024 · 44 min
124. Flashers: The case of Wayne Couzens
Former Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, in March, 2021. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss the findings of The Angiolini Inquiry, and how the crime of indecent exposure may indicate a potential trajectory towards even more serious sexual and violent offending. Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producers: Innes Bowen and Joe Kent Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner: Izzy Lee-Poulton Bad People is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.
12 Dec 2024 · 35 min
123. My ex tried to have me killed
Rob Parkes’ ex-wife lied about him being a drug dealer and a gang member. Then she tried to hire a hitman to have him killed. Rob tells his remarkable story of abuse, narrow escapes and survival. Presented by journalist and true crime documentary maker Amber Haque and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw. Producers: James Shield and Danita McIntyre Executive Producers: Joe Kent and Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner: Izzy Lee-Poulton Bad People is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds
5 Dec 2024 · 39 min
122. Trust Me I'm a Doctor
Ian Patterson was a sought after breast surgeon and patron of a charity supporting people with cancer, now he’s in prison. He was sentenced to 20 years in 2017 for carrying out unnecessary and unapproved procedures. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss the psychology of medical encounters and the prevalence of narcissism amongst surgeons. Producer: Rachel Oakes Executive Producers: Innes Bowen and Joe Kent Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Assistant Commissioners: Izzy Lee-Poulton and Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Bad People is a BBC…
28 Nov 2024 · 35 min
121. Understanding Violence: Bad People x The Reith Lectures
Dr Gwen Adshead has spent almost thirty years working with the some of the most violent offenders in prisons and high security psychiatric facilities. Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw speak to Dr Gwen Adshead who is delivering this year's BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures. She tells Bad People that to really understand violence we need to pay more attention to what perpetrators say about it.
21 Nov 2024 · 43 min
120. We need to talk about Ethan
Should the parents of a high school shooter be held criminally responsible for the actions of their son? The landmark case of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of US high school shooter Ethan Crumbley. They were charged with failing to prevent their son's fatal attack. Presented by journalist and true crime documentary maker Amber Haque and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw. Producer: James Shield Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner: Izzy Lee-Poulton
14 Nov 2024 · 38 min
119. The Ultimate Foul
Faye Dunn was a professional footballer who played for the England women's team. In 2020, police discovered she had another career in organised crime. Amber Haque tells the story of how Faye and her father were rumbled in the biggest organised crime bust in British history. Dr Julia Shaw delves into the research on double lives and going into crime with a family member. Producers: Maggie Latham, Lorna Reader and Fiona Woods Production Apprentice: Danita McIntyre Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan…
7 Nov 2024 · 43 min
118. Killed by Text
The story of how teenager Michelle Carter's text messages to suicidal boyfriend Conrad Roy resulted in death for him and a charge of manslaughter for her. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss whether it should be a crime to encourage someone to take their own life? Producers: Lorna Reader and Rachel Oakes. Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioners: Izzy Lee-Poulton and Sarah Green
31 Oct 2024 · 43 min
117. The Bookkeeper and the Boss
Sherri Lynn Lamarche was the unassuming bookkeeper in a family real estate business in Nova Scotia. She was trusted so much that she managed to steal millions before anyone noticed. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss how criminal psychology's model of the "fraud triangle" perfectly fits this ultimate office drama. It's a classic fraud story of opportunity, incentive and rationalisation. Producers: Ciaran Tracey with help from Lorna Reader, Rhiannon Cobb and Shabnam Grewal Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning…
24 Oct 2024 · 46 min
116. Bad Momfluencer
In February 2024, mother-of-six, beloved parenting guru and social media star Ruby Franke, was convicted and jailed for child abuse. The case struck at the heart of what it means to be a good carer in today’s society, and how even the most loving parent can end up committing unimaginable cruelty. Join criminal psychologist, Dr Julia Shaw and true crime documentary maker Amber Haque as they discuss this truly heartbreaking and mind-boggling case – as well as exploring how what and who we choose to follow and interact with on social media can raise serious moral questions too. Producers:…
17 Oct 2024 · 45 min
115. Lost at Sea
Rebecca Coriam, a 24-year-old from Chester, was working on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Mexico when she disappeared in 2011. The story of how the police and the cruise line dealt with her disappearance shines a light on the difficulties of getting a thorough investigation when someone goes missing at sea. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss this story and find out more about crime on cruise ships. Producers: Maggie Latham and Rachel Oakes Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins…
10 Oct 2024 · 35 min
114. Showtrial and the politics of protest
Showtrial series 2 is a gripping BBC screen drama about climate activism, civil disobedience and police corruption. Screenwriter Ben Richards joins Julia and Amber to talk about the bad things his characters do and why. In this podcast we state incorrectly that the setting for the courtroom drama was London. We should have said the setting was a Brighton courtroom. We apologise. Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioners: Izzy Lee-Poulton and Sarah Green
3 Oct 2024 · 44 min
113. It's in our DNA
Magdalena Cruz did not know who her father was. But she knew he was a rapist. An ancestry DNA test led her to her likely family. When she looked at their profiles on social media she came across the photograph of a man with a striking family resemblance. Journalist Amber Haque and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw delve into the story. Producers: Ciaran Tracey and James Shield Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Commissioning Editor: Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioners: Izzy Lee-Poulton and Sarah Green
26 Sep 2024 · 46 min
112. Four Boys
Three boys from the same Sunderland school were found dead within a few months of each other in the early 1990s. Their deaths were initially blamed on sniffing glue to get high. But the boys' families thought they had been murdered. And they were right. Two years later, Steven Grieveson was convicted of serial murder. But the investigation wasn't over. Presenters: Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw and journalist and true crime documentary maker Amber Haque. Producers: Maggie Latham and Rachel Oakes Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John…
19 Sep 2024 · 41 min
111. Pretendians
"Pretendians" are people who falsely claim a native American or indigenous Canadian identity. In 2024, a 59 year old woman who falsely claimed her daughters were adopted Inuit girls was sentenced to three years in a Canadian prison. Karima Manji lied about her daughters' heritage to claim $150,000 from funds reserved for Inuit people. The judge sentenced her to more than the two years recommended by the prosecution, stating that Manji had "victimized the Inuit of Nunavut by stealing their identity." Should crimes involving cultural appropriation attract a heavier sentence? Hosts: Dr Julia…
12 Sep 2024 · 45 min
110. Delimar Vera
Baby girl Delimar Vera is declared dead in a house fire. Years later, the bereaved mother thinks she recognises her at a party. The girl she thinks is her daughter is called Aaliyah. The woman who has brought her up claims to be Aaliyah’s birth mother. Hosts Amber Haque and Dr Julia Shaw discuss the truth about Delimar Vera’s real fate – and how the research on phantom pregnancy and child abduction help us understand what happened and why. Producers: Maggie Latham and Rachel Oakes Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Mix Engineer: John Scott Recording…
5 Sep 2024 · 43 min
109. Out of Character Criminal
A law abiding businessman turns criminal after medical treatment. Are hormones to blame? Richard Davis was a 42 year old asexual with a highly successful business and no criminal record. Then he experienced a sudden change of personality. He became sex-obsessed - buying pornography and hiring escorts. Within two years of this personality change, he had convictions for assault and dishonesty and was banned from being a company director. Journalist Amber Haque digs into the newspaper and court archives to tell this extraordinary story. Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw explains why, in this…
29 Aug 2024 · 58 min
108. I was Tinder Swindled
Presenters Dr Julia Shaw and Amber Haque meet the world's most famous victim of romance fraud: Cecilie Fjellhoy. After exposing the so-called Tindler Swindler in a Netflix hit, Cecilie confronted him in person and set up a campaign to help other victims. Cecilie's life changed radically after she swiped right on the Tinder profile of Simon Leviev. He took her on a private jet on their first date, told her he was the son of a billionaire diamond dealer and seemed to live a jet set life. But though he dressed in designer clothes from head to toe, drove expensive cars and had an entourage that…
21 Aug 2024 · 54 min
107. Gatwick Blackmailer
In TV dramas, criminal profilers solve crimes that the police cannot. Presenters Dr Julia Shaw and Amber Haque look at a real life case. An anonymous blackmailer threatens acid attacks unless his demands for pornographic photos of female airline staff at Gatwick are met. The police are stumped. So, they call in a professor of criminal psychology. What he says astounds them. Further information: Julia refers in this episode to the following study: Analysing criminal profiling validity: Underlying problems and future directions. Rita Alexandra Brilha Ribeiro, Cristina Branca Bento de Matos…
15 Aug 2024 · 52 min
106. The Pyjama Killer
Bad People is back! Criminal psychologist, Dr Julia Shaw, is joined by a new co-host: journalist and documentary maker Amber Haque. The new season starts with a true crime story that went viral during lockdown. Penny Jackson looked as if she was living the middle class retirement dream. Holidays and a retirement home by the sea. But cooped up with her husband during lockdown, her anger got out of control. After a petty row about food she stabbed her husband to death. When police arrested for murder, she said, "Oh good." Video footage of her being taken into custody in her M&S pyjamas went…
8 Aug 2024 · 4 min
Bad People is back!
Bad People is back! Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw makes a return to the series with a new co-host: journalist Amber Haque. Each episode tells the story of a true crime and explains why people do bad things. Murder, blackmail, fraud and much more. Listen every Thursday. Bad People is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Sounds.
29 Jun 2023 · 43 min
105. Dark Arts 2: Can we prevent campaigns of vilification?
It’s the Bad People finale. In this last ever episode, Julia and Sofie dig into the ethics of the media covering criminal cases. After a press “campaign of vilification”, all charges against Christopher Jefferies were dismissed. The tabloids had incorrectly painted him as Joanna Yeates’ killer. Mr Jefferies took the newspapers responsible to court - and won. He then gave evidence during the Leveson Inquiry, the UK’s landmark investigation into wrongdoing and alleged corruption within the media. In this episode of Bad People, criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw and comedian Sofie Hagen…
22 Jun 2023 · 37 min
104. Dark Arts 1: How biasing is pre-trial publicity?
In December 2010, the UK media became fixated with the disappearance of 25 year-old Joanna Yeates. When her body was discovered, many tabloid newspapers felt certain they knew the identity of her murderer. Christopher Jefferies had been Joanna’s landlord and was considered by some to be “strange”. The claims against Christopher were unfounded. Being hounded by the press left lasting reputational and psychological scars. In this episode of Bad People, Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen ask: is it possible to have a fair trial when the tabloids have decided you are guilty? They explore research on…
15 Jun 2023 · 33 min
103. Bad People x People Who Knew Me
Daniella Isaacs, the creator of the new BBC Sounds audio drama, People Who Knew Me, joins Dr Julia Shaw in a conversation about faking one’s own death and using the terrorist attacks in America on September 11th 2001 to do so. We ask, who fakes their own death and why? And how easy is it to pull it off? Warning: This episode contains references to the 9/11 attacks and also suicide and drowning. CREDITS Presenter: Dr Julia Shaw Producer: Simona Rata Assistant Producer: Hannah Ward Editors: Anna Lacey and Richard Collings Music: Matt Chandler Production Coordinator: Jonathan Harris…
25 May 2023 · 39 min
102. Paedophile Hunters: Do vigilantes help or harm justice?
Convicted child sex offender Mark Sutherland has arranged to meet a 13 year-old boy at a bus station, but when he arrives a team of adult “paedophile hunters” greet him with a video camera. In this episode of Bad People, hosts Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen explore vigilante justice. What right, if any, do these “hunters” have to track down sex offenders? When text messaging, do people have a right to privacy? And do sex offender registries make us safer or just more scared? CREDITS Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Laura Northedge Assistant Producer: Hannah Ward Editors: Anna…
18 May 2023 · 45 min
101. Thalaikoothal: What is extreme elder abuse?
In 2010 Pramila Krishnan, a journalist for the Deccan Chronicle, filed a story about a little-known practice called Thalaikoothal. The story was huge in India and lead to the filming of the 2020 Tamil-language film Baaram, which translates as The Burden. In this episode of Bad People, Sofie Hagen and Dr Julia Shaw discuss senicide, the killing of older adults. At what point is someone “old” and how does frailty fit into it? At what age, if any, should we want to die? And how prevalent is elder abuse? The audio in this episode is from the film Baaram, directed by Priya Krishnaswamy, a…
11 May 2023 · 38 min
100. Tough Love: How should we help troubled teens?
It’s 2001 and 14-year-old Anthony Haynes has died. He was one of some 50 kids who participated in a military-style, wilderness programme that was supposed to give troubled teens a new start. Hailed at the time as a local legend among parents struggling with their children, Anthony’s mother had enrolled him after a spell of behavioural problems. Yet, the wilderness therapy Anthony experienced consisted of drill instructions and desert isolation- the sort of ‘tough love’ rife within America’s Troubled Teen Industry. Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen discuss the original ideas behind wilderness…
4 May 2023 · 44 min
99. Central Park Jogger 2: How should we interview children?
The Central Park Five confess on video to police and appear on every front page in America. But why did they confess if it’s not true? In this second episode of this two parter, Bad People hosts Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen explore how the police interview children. Should they be treated the same as adults? Or is there a better way to extract their testimony? CREDITS Presenters: Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Assistant Producer: Hannah Ward Editors: Anna Lacey and Richard Collings Music: Matt Chandler Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Commissioning…
27 Apr 2023 · 37 min
98. Central Park Jogger 1: Do you know your right to silence?
It’s 9pm in New York City. More than thirty young men have gathered on the corner of 110th Street and 5th Avenue. They are attacking innocent people in Central Park. What they don’t know is that a woman will also be sexually assaulted, and that five of their friends will be convicted for a brutal crime they didn’t commit. The Central Park Five falsely confess on video to police. In this episode of Bad People, hosts Dr Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen explore how well we know our right to silence, how much it is influenced by what we see on TV. They also ask: when does silence look like guilt?…

About Bad People

Bad People is a English true crime podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: BBC Radio 5 Live
Language: English
Category: True Crime
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 43 min
Latest episode: 1 Dec 2025
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1524768655
Rights: (C) BBC 2025

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