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Shadow World

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK. Katie Razzall reveals what happened when a prize-winning author was accused of racism.

Radio 4,50 episodes

Episodes

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Anatomy of a Cancellation
Trailer
Katie Razzall reveals what happened when a prize-winning author was accused of racism
03 Nov 2025,3 mins
Anatomy of a Cancellation
1. Kate’s Story
When a prize-winning author was accused of racism, she asked her online followers to help.
12 Nov 2025,28 mins,
Anatomy of a Cancellation
2. The Words
This time we hear from Kate Clanchy’s critics.
19 Nov 2025,28 mins,
Anatomy of a Cancellation
3. The Paper Trail
How did Kate Clanchy’s publisher respond to the online debate?
26 Nov 2025,28 mins
Anatomy of a Cancellation
4. The Defence of Kate Clanchy
We hear from some of Kate’s supporters.
03 Dec 2025,28 mins
Anatomy of a Cancellation
5. The Rewrite
Will a sensitivity read be enough to move on from the row?
10 Dec 2025,28 mins
Anatomy of a Cancellation
6. Post Mortem
Today, what lessons can be drawn from what happened to Kate Clanchy and her critics?
17 Dec 2025,29 mins
The People vs McDonald's
Trailer
Mark Steel introduces a battle between two activists and a fast food giant...
11 Aug 2025,3 mins
The People vs McDonald's
1. The Leaflet
Mark Steel discovers what happened when two activists took on a corporate giant.
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The People vs McDonald's
2. Burger, Nugget, Ketchup, Spy
New faces start turning up at the London Greenpeace meetings...but something isn't right.
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The People vs McDonald's
3. Flipping Burgers!
Disclosed court documents reveal somebody has been watching...
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The People vs McDonald's
4. A Proper Grilling
Helen and Dave get an unexpected communication from the McDonald's Board of Directors.
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The People vs McDonald's
5. Clowning Around
When Helen digs out some old letters from John, she finds some potential clues.
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The People vs McDonald's
6. Judge for Yourself
The verdict is finally delivered, and Helen uncovers who her ex-partner John really was.
13 Aug 2025,28 mins
The Grave Robbers
Trailer
How is it possible to steal a home? Sue Mitchell investigates.
03 Jul 2025,2 mins
The Grave Robbers
1. My Dear Friend
Sue Mitchell investigates a gang using fake wills to steal people’s homes and inheritance.
05 Jul 2025,34 mins
The Grave Robbers
2. Strangers in the Street
Fake wills, stolen identities and cannabis farms
16 Jul 2025,31 mins
The Grave Robbers
3. The Good Spy
In life, neighbours protected Michael Judd, but when he died thieves stole everything.
23 Jul 2025,32 mins
The Grave Robbers
4. The Will to Steal
Sue Mitchell investigates a gang using fake wills to steal people’s homes and inheritance.
30 Jul 2025,31 mins
The Grave Robbers
5. Ripe for the Taking
Where did the gang get the idea to use fake wills to steal the homes of the dead?
06 Aug 2025,35 mins
The Smuggler
Trailer
How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler?
19 May 2025,4 mins,
The Smuggler
1. The Passport
British builder Nick joins an Albanian people smuggling gang.
26 May 2025,14 mins,
The Smuggler
2. Nick’s First Time
Nick smuggles an illegal migrant into the UK.
27 May 2025,14 mins,
The Smuggler
3. The Mistake
Nick is growing in confidence, but human error is impossible to avoid.
28 May 2025,14 mins,
The Smuggler
4. The Final Border
Nick becomes an informant, providing information about the Albanian gang
29 May 2025,14 mins
The Smuggler
5. The Crossing
Nick buys a boat and searches for a new smuggling route.
30 May 2025,14 mins
The Smuggler
6. The Vietnamese Connection
Nick is paid thousands of pounds to bring Vietnamese migrants into the UK.
02 Jun 2025,14 mins
The Smuggler
7. A Dangerous Journey
Nick makes a narrow escape after police turn up at a beach in France.
03 Jun 2025,14 mins
The Smuggler
8. The Boat Theory
Police build a theory that Nick is smuggling Vietnamese migrants to work on cannabis farms
04 Jun 2025,14 mins
The Smuggler
9. The Arrest
Nick is arrested on a beach in Kent, with four Vietnamese migrants on his boat
05 Jun 2025,14 mins