File on 4

BBC Radio 4
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File on 4

Award-winning current affairs documentary series investigating major issues at home and abroad

  1. 18 HR AGO

    Back Street Beauty

    File on 4 investigates the cosmetic beauty trade after the first death in the UK following a liquid BBL procedure. Jane Deith meets women who have been disfigured by this and other cosmetic procedures, and considers why existing regulation is struggling to keep up with a growing industry. A beauty salon in Clapham, London is exposed for the first time in this programme by a trainee who is horrified by what she witnesses. Several women have complained, claiming they were injured and disfigured by the treatment they received there. . Reporter: Jane Deith Producer: Kate West Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Clare Fordham

    43 min

  2. 28 OCT

    Gig Economy: The Ticketing Business

    When the rock band Oasis announced they were reuniting, 10 million fans from all over the world joined the queue for tickets. It was the UK’s biggest ever concert launch. Tickets quickly sold out and within hours, many were being offered for sale on secondary ticketing sites at vastly inflated prices. File on 4 investigates the online ticketing market to discover who's ahead of you in the queue - and how they're getting there. Reporter: Adrian Goldberg Producer: Hayley Mortimer Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Carl Johnston

    43 min

  3. 22 OCT

    The rise in prison recalls

    The number of people being recalled to prison after they’ve been released has nearly doubled in recent years. It has come at a significant cost to the public – but has it made the public significantly safer? Most recalls aren’t for further offending. Could the gains made by the early release scheme be undermined by the huge number of people being recalled to prison? Former prisoner and filmmaker Chris Atkins investigates the opaque world of prison recalls. He speaks to prison reform charities who say arbitrary recalls drag many further into a cycle of crisis and crime and follows one troubled prisoner over five years, who is recalled four times despite never being charged with any new crimes. Reporter: Chris Atkins Producer: Alys Harte Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Clare Fordham

    38 min
  4. Lucy Letby: The Killer Questions

    1 OCT

    Lucy Letby: The Killer Questions

    File on 4 examines some of the most contentious statistical, scientific and medical evidence in the Lucy Letby trial. The programme reveals new concerns involving medical evidence presented in court where Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. Reporter: Stephanie Hegarty Producers: Fay Nurse, Ben Robinson and Hayley Mortimer Technical Producers: Richard Hannaford and Nicky Edwards Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Carl Johnston

    38 min

  5. 27 AUG

    After the Riots

    Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers came under attack during the riots that swept across the country earlier this month. The courts have been tough on violent disorder, but File on 4 examines how tackling the possible root causes may require an even stronger effort. Tensions over immigration are still simmering, particularly in areas that have long been in economic decline. Paul Kenyon reports. Producer: Hayley Mortimer Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Alys Harte

    38 min
  6. Invisible Souls

    18 AUG

    Invisible Souls

    Fishermen from the Philippines, Ghana and Sri Lanka speak out about how badly, they say, they were treated by a Scottish fishing company that hired them. Most of the fishermen have been waiting in the UK for more than 10 years for their case to be heard. Despite two extensive police investigations, no convictions have been secured for human trafficking or modern slavery. This is the first time the fishermen have spoken out. Reporter and Producer Monica Whitlock. Music by Jon Nicholls. Mix and Sound Design by Tom Brignell. Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley. Editor Alys Harte. Image: Fishermen from the Philippines and Ghana who worked on scallop boats.

    42 min

  7. 13 AUG

    The Priest and the Pay-off

    Over three decades, a priest assessed as posing a risk of “significant harm” to children and vulnerable people worked in the Church of England. But allegations against him didn’t stick, leading to him remaining in post until after he was offered a substantial pay-off. The surprising manner in which he finally left in 2022 raises serious questions about the judgement of Church leaders. If you have been affected by sexual abuse or violence, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Reporter: Aleem Maqbool Producers: Steve Swann and Fergus Hewison Technical Production: Richard Hannaford Production Coordinator: Tim Fernley Editor: Carl Johnston

    43 min

  8. 30 JUL

    Something in the Water: The Secrets of Camp Lejeune

    Camp Lejeune is a vast US Marine Corps base in North Carolina. It’s been in operation since the 1940s and covers a massive 240 square miles. But for years it hid a secret. For decades, its water supply was contaminated with harmful chemicals found to increase the risk of some cancers. It’s estimated that one million people might have been exposed to the toxic water. But it wasn’t just American personnel who were based at Camp Lejeune. Soldiers from all over the world - including from the UK - also spent time there on training exercises and exchange programmes. Emma Forde hears from the British veterans and their families who lived and worked on the base and have since suffered serious health problems or seen loved ones die from conditions associated with exposure to the water. But despite a compensation scheme for victims being widely reported in the US, there are concerns that those from the UK are still unaware of the serious health risks they were exposed to. And time is running out. Reporter: Emma Forde Producer: Andrew Picken Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Production Coordinators: Ellie Dover & Tim Fernley Editor: Carl Johnston Image: Royal Marine Captain Joe House and Captain Jonathan Lear handing over to each other at Camp Lejeune.

    43 min
See All (439)

About

Award-winning current affairs documentary series investigating major issues at home and abroad

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2024
  • Episodes
    439
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    File on 4

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