146 episodes
British Scandal Wondery
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- History
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4.4 • 183 Ratings
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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 Even The Rich, comes British Scandal. We tell the stories of the murkier side of the British elite, from Phone Hacking to Saville to Profumo who show us the reality of power, the price of pride and the failings of the great and good. Because sometimes the truth doesn’t set everyone free…
New episodes come out every Wednesday for free, or 1-week early and ad-free for Wondery+ subscribers or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
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The Aitken Affair | A Self-Made Man
With Matt Forde taking some time away from the microphone, comedian and actor Rob Delaney joins Alice Levine to take listeners inside a story of politics, pride and perjury.
Young MP Jonathan Aitken has big ambitions. He wants to make his mark on politics - and on the world. After he catches Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s eye, his star is firmly on the rise. But before long, a dark secret threatens to destroy everything he’s worked so hard to build.
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The Aitken Affair | Lies Under Oath
This episode comes out for free on 12/06, and is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ subscribers.
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The editor of The Guardian has had a tip-off which, if true, is huge: that the cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is accepting money from senior Saudis. He’s been trying to nail down the story for a month but with no luck. Then one day, he has an idea: call David Leigh, an investigative journalist who MPs with something to hide have learned to fear. Maybe David can find the smoking gun? -
The Cannabis King | The High Life
It's 1964 and a young Oxford student called Howard Marks develops a habit that will define the course his life. At first, cannabis is simply his escape. But then it becomes his route to making millions. It’s going well - really well - until one misstep sees Howard forced to choose between his family and his freedom.
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The Cannabis King | Bonnie and Clyde
Howard Marks has just imported enough Colombian weed to get every person in the UK stoned. He’s at the peak of his trafficking career and he’s never been prouder. Perhaps he’ll even retire. Howard celebrates the win with a sherry. But he’s barely a sip in when a man appears in front of him with some bad news: Howard's under arrest.
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The Cannabis King | The Comedown
Howard Marks is living a life of luxury in the Mediterranean. But he’s being watched. A federal agent is tapping his phone and following his every move. Craig Lovato has made catching “Mr Nice” his life’s work. And he’s not going to stop until he brings Marks - and his empire - down.
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The Cannabis King | Interview - Julian Peto, close friend of Howard Marks
Matt and Alice sit down with old friend of the notorious drug smuggler, Julian Peto. The pair met as denim-clad Oxford students with long hair and a disdain for academic lectures. Julian takes us inside their raucous university nights, Howard’s magnetic charm, and the Welshman’s surprising resilience in the face of imprisonment and his later cancer diagnosis.
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Customer Reviews
Excellent
Excellent
Alistair Campbell on Liz Truss
I’m a fan of British Scandal and would normally give it a 5 star rating. Listening to Alistair Campbell’s critique of Liz Truss is so overtly sexist I’m genuinely shocked. Is his podcast made by the same company as British Scandal? I can think of no other reason for having this misogynist on the show. Favourably comparing Boris Johnson and George Osborne to Liz Truss is baffling. Surely, their defining characteristic is that they are opportunistic Tories.
Great series
Alice and Matt are great presenters m. Bring a levity to it where they can. The series itself is mesmerising indeed hard to believe. Well done