11 episodes
The Cruelty – A Child Unclaimed BBC Radio Scotland
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- News
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4.8 • 165 Ratings
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Confronting a shocking reality that hits close to home David Donaldson investigates the Unknown Bairn, a boy washed up in Tayport. Can Davie uncover the little boy’s identity?
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Introducing..."The Missing Madonna"
From a Scottish Castle to a Merseyside boozer, via the FBI’s most-wanted list, this is the incredible story of a missing masterpiece.
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9. The Wee Boy
In Tayport Cemetery on the 51st anniversary of the discovery of the Unknown Bairn, Davie meets again with the Robertson family.
Presenter: Davie Donaldson
Producer: Kate Bissell, BBC Scotland Productions.
Researchers: Rachael Fulton and Catrina Rose
Additional reporting: Cameron Mackay
Story consultants: Jack Kibble White and Kirsty Williams
Sound Designer: Julian Corrie
Music : Julian Corrie with additional tracks by Barry Jackson
Executive Editor: Heather Kane Darling
With thanks to Martin Conaghan for developing the initial podcast idea with BBC Scotland Productions. -
8. The Mother
After receiving a flurry of messages, Davie arrive at the doorstep of someone who might just hold the key to the whole investigation.
Presenter: Davie Donaldson
Producer: Kate Bissell, BBC Scotland Productions.
Researchers: Rachael Fulton and Catrina Rose
Additional reporting: Cameron Mackay
Story consultants: Jack Kibble White and Kirsty Williams
Sound Designer: Julian Corrie
Music : Julian Corrie with additional tracks by Barry Jackson
Editor: Heather Kane Darling
With thanks to Martin Conaghan for developing the initial podcast idea with BBC Scotland Productions. -
7. The Camp
Tracking down the camp where the Unknown Bairn may have lived brings Davie even closer to the story and offers up a potential new lead.
Presenter: Davie Donaldson
Producer: Kate Bissell, BBC Scotland Productions.
Researchers: Rachael Fulton and Catrina Rose
Additional reporting: Cameron Mackay
Story consultants: Jack Kibble White and Kirsty Williams
Sound Designer: Julian Corrie
Music : Julian Corrie with additional tracks by Barry Jackson
Executive Editor: Heather Kane Darling
With thanks to Martin Conaghan for developing the initial podcast idea with BBC Scotland Productions. -
6. The Boy on the Bike
The case suddenly starts to speed up, as new information is forthcoming. However, these breakthroughs lead Davie to look again at information already received.
Presenter: Davie Donaldson
Producer: Kate Bissell, BBC Scotland Productions.
Researchers: Rachael Fulton and Catrina Rose
Additional reporting: Cameron Mackay
Story consultants: Jack Kibble White and Kirsty Williams
Sound Designer: Julian Corrie
Music : Julian Corrie with additional tracks by Barry Jackson
Executive Editor: Heather Kane Darling
With thanks to Martin Conaghan for developing the initial podcast idea with BBC Scotland Productions. -
5. The Experiments
Davie discovers the story of a little girl, possibly murdered in care, and is forced to question whether the Unknown Bairn could have met a similar fate.
Presenter: Davie Donaldson
Producer: Kate Bissell, BBC Scotland Productions.
Researchers: Rachael Fulton and Catrina Rose
Additional reporting: Cameron Mackay
Story consultants: Jack Kibble White and Kirsty Williams
Sound Designer: Julian Corrie
Music : Julian Corrie with additional tracks by Barry Jackson
Executive Editor: Heather Kane Darling
With thanks to Martin Conaghan for developing the initial podcast idea with BBC Scotland Productions.
Customer Reviews
History lesson in discrimination
A fascinating historical insight into a
Community who are discriminated against. Sheds light on the care system and general societal discrimination right up to present day. Excellent podcast. Thankyou
Amazing story
Fantastically told saddest of stories.
BBC Scotland needs to do better
This podcast addresses the undoubted injustice enacted on travelling people and on children taken into “ care”. This itself would have been a worthy subject for a podcast. It’s not done particularly well, sadly. The bizarre sequence of reasoning (if it can be called that) leading to the “discovery” of the identity of the unknown bairn is simply unbelievable. This element of the podcast is, I am sorry to say, a fairly cynical fabrication. I don’t say that the child did not come from a travelling family. I do say that the child’s identity could not have been arrived at through the absurd process described at such length. The presenter himself is a member of the travelling community and by his own admission the identity of the child was common knowledge in the community. He even claims to be related to the child! Hence, there is no mystery how he knew the identity of the child. I understand why an unscrupulous organisation might be tempted to make the story more interesting by introducing a spurious quest, even at the cost of deceiving the listener. This is not what BBC Scotland should be doing, I think. A further excellent example of nonsensical reasoning can be found in BBC Scotland’s Bible John podcast.