The Cruelty – A Child Unclaimed

BBC Radio Scotland
The Cruelty – A Child Unclaimed

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?

Episodes

  1. MAY 13

    Introducing - The Forgotten Dead Series 2

    'Mary Ellen' was a nickname given by Police. She was found wrapped in a copy of the News of the World and still wearing her jewellery. Her real name remains a mystery.

    1 min

  2. 08/25/2023

    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.

    2 min

  3. 09/28/2022

    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.

    31 min

  4. 09/28/2022

    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.

    19 min

  5. 09/28/2022

    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.

    25 min

  6. 09/28/2022

    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.

    26 min

  7. 09/28/2022

    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.

    46 min

  8. 09/28/2022

    4. The Cruelty

    In trying to work out how a child could remain unclaimed, Davie is forced to consider his father’s childhood and how it could be connected to the case. 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.

    35 min

  9. 09/28/2022

    3. Lucky Scalp

    No one knew where The Unknown Bairn washed in from. Did he come from out of the sea, perhaps as far afield as the Netherlands or did he enter the water upstream in the River Tay. 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.

    26 min

  10. 09/28/2022

    2. The Couple on the Bus

    Davie meets a former detective who worked on the case, but has since made claims in the press about the identity of the Unknown Bairn. 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.

    23 min

  11. 09/28/2022

    1. The Memorial

    Davie Donaldson begins his investigation into the case of the Unknown Bairn. At the memorial service he hears about a lead which has never been followed up. 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.

    18 min

  12. 09/21/2022

    Introducing The Cruelty – A Child Unclaimed

    There’ve been many theories, but the case remains unsolved. Davie explores a controversial 20th-century social experiment and confronts a shocking reality that hits close to home.

    4 min
  • 12 Episodes

4.5
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

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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