Podcast · Society & Culture

Bed of Lies

by The Telegraph · English · Society & Culture

A taxi driver is shot dead in front of his children. A high-security room goes up in flames. Then terrorists are unmasked as spies. And behind it all, a shadowy unit of the British Army, who ran the notorious agent Stakeknife. Award-winning journalist Cara McGoogan investigates the biggest cover-up

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New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 42 min
Latest: 28 Nov 2025
Language: English

Latest episode

28 Nov 2025 · 41 min

Murder in the Masai Mara | Episode 1, SOS

On a cold February day in 1988, Julie Ward sets off on the journey of a lifetime from England, through Africa. She establishes a new life in the bustling capital of Kenya but mysteriously disappears while on safari - leaving her plane ticket back to England untouched on a table in her Nairobi home. When her father John flies to Kenya to track her down, he finds a gruesome crime scene in the Masai Mara that throws up more questions than it answers. Archive in this episode: NPR, ITN via Getty, The Telegraph Listen to the whole series of Murder in the Masai Mara:…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

21 Nov 2025 · 2 min
Introducing: Murder in the Masai Mara
When Julie Ward vanishes mysteriously in the Masai Mara in 1988, her father begins a hunt for answers that stretches from a safari lodge in Kenya to MI6’s headquarters in London. The case was never solved. Nearly four decades on, The Telegraph Deputy Investigations Editor Katherine Rushton pours over classified documents, interviews the people tangled in the case, and travels to Kenya to try to understand who tried to stop her murder being solved. What happened to Julie Ward, why did the Kenyan authorities try to cover it up, and why were MI6 agents involved? Murder in the Masai Mara: Coming…
S3 · E9 · 11 Apr 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Legacy | 9
Peace walls, segregated schools and old enemies living on the same street. Cara returns to Northern Ireland to see how, today, The Troubles are far from forgotten history. A victim of Stakeknife breaks his silence and, like so many others, he wants to know the truth about his father’s murder. As her investigation draws to a close, Cara examines the legacy of Britain’s terror spy network and asks, has justice been served – or is the state getting away with murder? Archive in this episode: Getty, ITN, PA, Infowars, BBC, RTÉ Get in touch: [email protected] and on social media…
S3 · E8 · 29 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Devastation | 8
A family forced to flee abroad. A young soldier killed by a car bomb. Two teenagers gunned down in a mobile shop. As Cara exposes the cold-bloodedness of both sides in the Troubles, she finds out the extent of the state's lethal spy network. Bereaved families hunt for justice, and the truth is shrouded in secrecy as killers walk the streets. Archive in this episode: RTE, Getty Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch:…
S3 · E7 · 21 Mar 2025 · 57 min
Cover-up | 7
IRA spycatcher Freddie Scappaticci has been outed as FRU agent Stakeknife – but he’s not going to disappear without a fight. The British state takes unprecedented measures to make sure their spy gets away with murder. Cara teams up with veteran reporter John Ware to reveal just how high up the cover-up goes. Their reporting leads to a key organisation that has so far remained in the shadows: MI5. Archive in this episode: Getty, Parliament TV Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning.…
S3 · E6 · 7 Mar 2025 · 52 min
License to Kill | 6
Brian Nelson is finally in the dock for his campaign of murderous violence, but will he face justice? The question sends shivers through the British government, and the answer causes even more of a stir. But Brian is just the tip of the iceberg – there’s a new battle, shocking revelations, and a landmark apology to come. Archive in this episode: Getty, ITN, UK Parliament Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected]…
S3 · E5 · 20 Feb 2025 · 50 min
Handlers | 5
Cara tracks down soldiers from the covert unit of the British army at the heart of her investigation. As these people who handled spies in the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries spill their secrets, it becomes clear that Agent 6137 and Scap are just the tip of the iceberg. Betrayal, sex, murder. Was it really all for the greater good? Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on social media @cjmcgoogan Hosted…
S3 · E4 · 13 Feb 2025 · 50 min
Touts | 4
The IRA creates a new unit to root out informers – or touts – and kill them. A man known as Scap quickly rises to the top of this ‘Nutting Squad’ and builds up a fearsome reputation for cruelty. But he is hiding a dark secret – and the implications of the truth being exposed are enormous. Archive in this episode: Carlton TV, ITV, BBC, Getty, ITN, RTÉ Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on social media…
S3 · E3 · 6 Feb 2025 · 58 min
Agent 6137 | 3
Facing life in prison for murder, a key loyalist makes a surprising confession: he is Agent 6137. When he targeted people for the UDA to assassinate, he was also working for the British. The daughter of one of his victims hunts for the truth about his life as a spy – but as she and Cara dig deeper, they find documents are missing and proof is hard to pin down. Archive in this episode: Getty, ITN, BBC Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch:…
S3 · E2 · 30 Jan 2025 · 50 min
Collusion | 2
Top detectives race to untangle a web of lies behind the murders. But just as they’re about to arrest a key loyalist suspect, their secure office containing top-secret evidence goes up in flames. They hear whispers that a clandestine unit of the British army could be behind the sabotage. All to protect one man – a man Cara reveals is a vicious fighter with a shadowy past. Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch:…
S3 · E1 · 30 Jan 2025 · 46 min
Trouble | 1
Three innocent Catholic men are shot dead in front of their families by a brutal Protestant paramilitary group hunting the IRA. Even in the dark days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the murders shock the nation. Then it emerges the gunmen aren’t working alone. Cara McGoogan is determined to find out who else is involved and how deep the collusion goes. Archive in this episode: Getty, ITN, ITV, RTÉ, Fremantle, Thames TV, Npatou Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning.…
S3 · 22 Jan 2025 · 2 min
Introducing Bed of Lies: Conflict
A taxi driver is shot dead in front of his children. A high-security room goes up in flames. Then terrorists are unmasked as spies. And behind it all, a shadowy unit of the British Army. Award-winning journalist Cara McGoogan investigates the biggest cover-up of the Northern Ireland Troubles and asks: is the British state getting away with murder? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E8 · 25 May 2024 · 40 min
Final Report
Over the last three years, Cara McGoogan has kept in touch with the people impacted by the Infected Blood Scandal who she spoke to for Series 2 of Bed of Lies. On Monday 20th May those victims finally heard how Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the inquiry, interpreted the evidence he’s heard over the past 5 years. But as the dust settles, and the euphoria of the final report and compensation package dies down, what's next? Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning.…
11 Oct 2023 · 15 min
Introducing Cara McGoogan's Book: Part 2
Listen to this extract from the host of Bed of Lies Cara McGoogan's new book: The Poison Line (UK) and Blood Farm (US). Developed from the second series of this podcast, Bed of Lies: Blood, The Poison Line gives the full and shocking account of one of the biggest medical disasters in history – and the lengths that big pharma, the NHS and governments worldwide took to cover it up. If you're in the US you can buy Blood Farm here: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Farm-Explosive-Corporate-Scandal-ebook/dp/B0BTDVSKCW | If you're in the UK you can buy The Poison Line from Telegraph Books:…
21 Sep 2023 · 28 min
Introducing Cara McGoogan's Book: Part 1
Listen to this extract from the host of Bed of Lies Cara McGoogan's new book: The Poison Line (UK) and Blood Farm (US). Developed from the second series of this podcast, Bed of Lies: Blood, The Poison Line gives the full and shocking account of one of the biggest medical disasters in history – and the lengths that big pharma, the NHS and governments worldwide took to cover it up. If you're in the US you can buy Blood Farm here: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Farm-Explosive-Corporate-Scandal-ebook/dp/B0BTDVSKCW | If you're in the UK you can buy The Poison Line from Telegraph Books:…
20 Jun 2022 · 35 min
Introducing: Call Bethel
Brave whistleblowers. A trail of data. A secret system for dealing with allegations of child abuse. Bed of Lies' Cara McGoogan introduces a new podcast from the Telegraph, Call Bethel. Follow the Telegraph's Investigations team on their year-long hunt into the Jehovah's Witnesses. For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/bethelpodcast | If you have any information that could help the investigation, you can email the team on [email protected] | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…
S2 · E7 · 17 Nov 2021 · 49 min
Retribution, Part 2
Every month, more names are added to the list of survivors. But with every year, more names on that list succumb to their illnesses. Will the Inquiry bring them justice before it’s too late? In this final instalment of the series, they lay bare the shattering impact of this bed of lies. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on…
S2 · E6 · 17 Nov 2021 · 35 min
Retribution, Part 1
A letter leads to a lawsuit – and a big development in our story. After years of feeling silenced, British survivors are making their voices heard. But will those accountable finally listen? Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E5 · 9 Nov 2021 · 47 min
Violation
Plasma is a life saver - and a lucrative industry. One that made fortunes and cost lives. But what was really going on behind closed doors? A whistleblower reveals all. Read Cara’s notebook : www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E4 · 2 Nov 2021 · 46 min
Fabrication
If you knock on enough doors, eventually one will open. Tireless investigators trace the infected blood from the arms of people with haemophilia back to the room where it all began – in that American prison. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E3 · 25 Oct 2021 · 44 min
Confrontation
Sadness turns to anger; anger to action. The survivors fight back, but for each confrontation, there's a coverup. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E2 · 18 Oct 2021 · 43 min
Experimentation
Medicine is a game of risk, and few have seen the cost of getting it wrong as clearly as one group of boys. Whispers, a terrifying newspaper headline and then a stark message: a deadly virus is in their school. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E1 · 11 Oct 2021 · 41 min
Infection
Two young couples, two shock diagnoses. Our story begins with Clair, Bryan, Frankie and Joe - and four young lives turned upside down. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/notebook Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · 7 Oct 2021 · 1 min
Introducing Bed of Lies: Blood
It begins in a maximum security prison in Louisiana – and it ends in thousands of deaths. This is the story of people poisoned, families torn apart by grief and a mass cover up. Cara McGoogan investigates one of the biggest medical disasters in history. The second series of the award-winning podcast, Bed of Lies, launches Tuesday 12th October. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E8 · 22 Dec 2020 · 40 min
Inquiry, Part 2
The spycops' relationships were built on a bed of lies – including their marriages. In this final episode of the series, we hear about the shattering impact of the undercover policing scandal. And the truth catches up with the men. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E7 · 22 Dec 2020 · 26 min
Inquiry, Part 1
Police spies have infiltrated homes – and hearts. Now, they face a public inquiry. But why did they dupe women into relationships in the first place? Who sanctioned it? And will all the women and children involved finally receive an apology? Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies | Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
S1 · E6 · 15 Dec 2020 · 41 min
Fightback
Each woman has a fragment of the truth. When they put the pieces together, the true scale of the deception starts to emerge. But as they edge closer to the full story, there's an obstacle in the way: the police. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E5 · 8 Dec 2020 · 42 min
Tradecraft
It’s a thin line between spying and meddling. And it’s one that's only faintly drawn in the manual once given to new undercover police officers - written by a familiar name. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E4 · 1 Dec 2020 · 37 min
Uncovered
The mask slips, the relationships unravel, and as lies are uncovered, so too are the men behind them. Plus, for the very first time, our stories collide. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E3 · 24 Nov 2020 · 33 min
Breakdown
One by one, the men vanish. As the search begins, the girlfriends start to question what they’re really looking for - and who they’re actually in love with. Read Cara’s notebook: www.telegraph.co.uk/bedoflies Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Get in touch: [email protected] and on Twitter @cjmcgoogan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Bed of Lies

Bed of Lies is a English society & culture podcast from The Telegraph. 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: The Telegraph
Language: English
Category: Society & Culture
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 42 min
Latest episode: 28 Nov 2025
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1537575625

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